Nguyen Van Nhat
Deputy Secretary of Party Committee, Chairman of Lao Cai Ward People's Committee
Lao Cai ward today has taken on a completely new look after the process of adjusting and merging administrative boundaries. That change is not only a story about geographical boundaries but also a major turning point in the stature, opportunities and development aspirations of a future frontier city.
Looking back at the results of the 2020 - 2025 period, Lao Cai ward has made a strong impression in many areas. The total local budget revenue by 2025 is estimated at 3,965 billion VND, an increase of 40% compared to the beginning of the term. The average income of people is about 115 million VND/year, double that of 2020. The private economy has developed quite well, the collective economy has received attention and support for development, the ward has attracted many investment and development projects of large economic groups and enterprises nationwide.
Currently, the ward has over 2,100 enterprises and more than 5,500 business households, contributing to promoting trade and services, improving the quality of people's lives.
The economic structure of Lao Cai ward in the past 5 years has shifted strongly in a positive direction, with trade - services accounting for the highest proportion, more than 57.6%; industry - construction accounting for 41.7%; agriculture - forestry - fishery accounting for 0.7%; industrial production value is estimated at 2,900 billion VND, 2.3 times higher than the previous period; trade - services have clearly improved with total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue reaching nearly 30,000 billion VND, showing the strong resilience of the border urban area.
Not only that, the agricultural production thinking of people in rural areas of the ward has also changed significantly. From self-sufficient production, people have turned to commodity production with links and markets. Specialized pineapple and tea growing areas have been formed, bringing sustainable income to people.
In addition, Lao Cai ward also owns many cultural and historical relics. Destinations such as the sacred Thuong Temple, Kim Thanh spiritual tourism area, riverside walking street, Nam Thi wharf, international railway station and being part of the Lao Cai - Sa Pa - Bac Ha - Y Ty tourism chain further highlight the advantages of the locality. Thanks to that, Lao Cai ward has attracted more than 1.5 million visitors to visit and experience, bringing in more than 2,000 billion VND in revenue from tourism in the past 5 years.
The attractiveness of Lao Cai ward comes not only from its impressive growth figures but also from its rare geostrategic location. This is a land that converges all three types of vital transportation: road, railway, and waterway. The ward has all the strategic components of an inter-regional and international connection center such as Lao Cai International Border Gate, Kim Thanh International Road Border Gate No. 2, international railway, logistics area, warehouse system and bustling border market...
Lao Cai Ward plays an important role as an important intersection in the economic corridor of Kunming - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh. That has made Lao Cai Ward become the center of the province's foreign economic development strategy, border tourism and important general services.
After expanding its administrative boundaries, Lao Cai ward seems to have been given more strength. No longer confined to the old urban core with areas such as Coc Leu, Kim Tan, Lao Cai ward has now extended to open rural areas such as Ban Phiet, Van Hoa and especially Duyen Hai area - the most vibrant border economic center in the Northwest region.
This diverse geographical structure creates a multi-axis development space, with international border gates, industrial clusters and service-trade centers; as well as agricultural commodity production areas and eco-tourism. All are converging to form a multi-functional, connected and vibrant Lao Cai ward.
From that reality, Lao Cai Ward clearly identifies strategic orientations in the coming period with comprehensive breakthrough solutions. First, a breakthrough in traffic and urban infrastructure is the key task, aiming to become a regional and international connection and trade center, creating new growth momentum. The Ward focuses on effectively mobilizing all resources to invest in and upgrade traffic infrastructure, perfecting inter-regional and international transport hubs, especially connecting Lao Cai Station with Lao Cai Border Gate Economic Zone, Sa Pa Airport and satellite cities. The goal is to turn the railway station hub into the core of the multi-functional urban model - station city (TOD).
At the same time, the ward focuses on renovating and building modern urban infrastructure according to the economic axis planning along the Red River; promoting circular economy. At the same time, the ward promotes digital transformation in urban management, forming a startup ecosystem, aiming for a dynamic, livable and integrated urban area.
Along with infrastructure development, Lao Cai ward identifies the breakthrough field of “trade - services - logistics” as one of the strategic pillars, closely linked to the unique advantages of a locality located in the economic center of the border gate in the province. The ward will focus on investing in developing modern commercial spaces such as border markets, exhibition centers - fairs, developing the night economy to attract consumption and shopping, while forming a vibrant commercial space.
Tourism development is oriented to become a key economic sector, based on the effective exploitation of available potentials with border cultural space, the system of inland spiritual relics, cross-border tourism routes, and a series of cultural and sports festivals with distinctive colors. Thereby, gradually turning Lao Cai ward into a regional tourism connection point and at the same time becoming an indispensable destination on the northern tourism map.
In particular, digital transformation breakthroughs will be comprehensively promoted in all areas. By 2030, Lao Cai ward aims to have 100% of public services performed online at a high level. All data on planning, population, land, enterprises, and business households will be digitized and connected to the provincial and central database systems. Enterprises, cooperatives, and business households will be supported to develop digital business models and e-commerce, creating a dynamic, modern, and efficient production and service environment.
Throughout all development strategies, Lao Cai ward always puts people at the center, both as the subject and the driving force of the sustainable development process. Caring for and looking after people's lives is identified as a priority throughout, with the motto of not leaving anyone behind in the innovation journey. The education, health, social security, vocational training and high-quality human resource development systems will continue to receive appropriate investment, ensuring access to good services for all people. In addition, cultural, sports and community living spaces will be planned synchronously, modernly and rich in identity, where people not only enjoy good living conditions but also preserve the cultural lifestyle of the border area and connect the community. People's happiness is the most authentic and sustainable measure of the locality's success in each step of development.
A great aspiration and new mindset are being aroused in all cadres, party members and people of all ethnic groups in Lao Cai ward, determined to build this place into a model urban area, worthy of being a key ward in terms of economy, culture, society, national defense, security, foreign affairs, a growth pole, and a locomotive of the province.
Presented by: Huu Huynh
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/khat-vong-vuon-len-tu-trung-tam-vung-bien-post878752.html
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