Expanding space, accelerating development for the southernmost region of the country

(PLVN) - The merger of Bac Lieu and Ca Mau provinces not only aims to streamline the apparatus and improve the effectiveness of state management, but also opens up new development space, creating a breakthrough momentum for the southernmost region of the country. Ca Mau (new) is promoting investment in strategic infrastructure, developing marine economy, renewable energy, seafood processing industry, aiming to become the driving force of the Mekong Delta region.

The National Assembly issued Resolution No. 202/2025/NQ-QH15 on merging the entire natural area and population of the two provinces of Bac Lieu and Ca Mau into a new province named Ca Mau. The merged province has an area of ​​7,942.39 km², a population of more than 2.6 million people, including 64 commune-level administrative units. The administrative center is located in Ca Mau city.

Immediately after the Resolution was issued, agencies and organizations of the two localities urgently coordinated to develop a project to merge the organizational apparatus, ensuring the two-level government system operates from July 1. The trial at 17 new commune-level administrative units showed that the political system at all levels has operated stably and effectively.

Strategic Infrastructure – The Pillar for Breakthrough Development

The Ca Mau City – Dat Mui Expressway and the route connecting the mainland with Hon Khoai Island (Ngoc Hien District) are driving forces projects, both promoting socio -economic development and ensuring national defense and security in the island region.

Mr. Nguyen Ho Hai - Secretary of Ca Mau Provincial Party Committee said: "After separation from Minh Hai province (1997), both Ca Mau and Bac Lieu provinces had a low starting point. However, thanks to the spirit of solidarity and determination to overcome difficulties, the two localities have risen strongly, narrowed the gap with the region and are keeping up with the general development momentum of the whole country.

Currently, many key projects such as motorways to 100% of commune centers, inter-regional connecting routes, seaports, airports, etc. are gradually being completed. Key industries such as wind power, solar power, gas - electricity - fertilizer are developing rapidly. The material and spiritual life of the people is constantly improving.

Affirming the great significance of the provincial merger, the Secretary of the Ca Mau Provincial Party Committee emphasized: “The merger of Ca Mau and Bac Lieu provinces is not simply a matter of reorganizing the apparatus, but a strategic turning point to expand development space, increase economic-administrative scale, enhance competitiveness and regional connectivity. This is a favorable condition for Ca Mau to develop more strongly, playing a driving role in the entire Mekong Delta region.”

Currently, Ca Mau province is accelerating the implementation of strategic infrastructure projects such as: Ca Mau - Dat Mui expressway, Can Tho - Ca Mau expressway, Ca Mau airport, Hon Khoai deep-water seaport, Gas - Electricity - Fertilizer complex... These projects not only promote socio-economic development but also contribute to ensuring national defense and security of sea and island areas.

In addition, the province continues to invest in key projects such as Phan Ngoc Hien Square, new urban infrastructure, and intra-provincial traffic connections. As of mid-June 2025, public investment disbursement reached more than VND1,800 billion.

In the first 6 months of the year, Ca Mau attracted 7 new investment projects with a total capital of over 324 billion VND; 302 newly established enterprises with a total registered capital of over 1,900 billion VND, an increase of 33% over the same period.

At the same time, Ca Mau province is developing socio-economic development targets for the 2025-2030 period, serving documents for Party Congresses at all levels. The provincial planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, has been approved by the Prime Minister and is being effectively implemented, ensuring regional connectivity and comprehensively exploiting potential after the merger.

Ca Mau Airport and Gas - Electricity - Fertilizer Complex are important infrastructure projects, contributing to promoting the socio-economic development of the province.

At the groundbreaking ceremony of the Ca Mau Airport expansion project, Mr. Le Van Su - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee acknowledged the strong direction of the Central Government, the active coordination of Ministries, Branches and the consensus of the people - key factors helping the project to be implemented on schedule, contributing to promoting socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security.

Marine Economy – Fisheries – Energy: Three Key Pillars

After the merger, Ca Mau continues to affirm its position as a fast-growing and sustainable locality in the Mekong Delta, with three main economic pillars: marine economy, high-tech aquaculture and renewable energy.

In the first 6 months of 2025, the total seafood output reached 338,290 tons (up 3.7%), of which shrimp reached 131,427 tons (up 3.9%). The area of ​​improved extensive shrimp farming increased by 6.3% over the same period. Shrimp prices are stable, with a tendency to recover. Seafood export turnover reached over 649 million USD (up 7.4%). The province is expanding ecological shrimp farming models with international certification, targeting the Halal, EU, and Japanese markets...

Ca Mau currently has the largest shrimp farming area in the country with about 300,000 hectares, seafood exports reaching over 1 billion USD per year, creating livelihoods for hundreds of thousands of households.

In the energy sector, the Gas - Electricity - Fertilizer industrial cluster continues to expand. The province is promoting strategic projects such as LNG power, green hydrogen, green ammonia, etc. In particular, SK Group (Korea) proposed a 1,500 MW LNG power plant project. Ca Mau has proposed the Central Government to approve the electricity export mechanism and issue a special mechanism for renewable energy development.

Ca Mau province also proposed a pilot mechanism for exploiting carbon credits from mangrove forests - a new direction for green economy, associated with ecological conservation.

Perspective of Bac Lieu high-tech shrimp agricultural zone (over 400 hectares) continues to promote its role as a core innovation after the merger, attracting large enterprises to invest and transfer technology.

At the same time, the Bac Lieu High-Tech Shrimp Development Agricultural Zone (over 400 hectares) continues to play its role as a center for innovation, attracting investment and technology transfer. The high-tech shrimp industry is an important pillar for GRDP and creates jobs for tens of thousands of workers.

In particular, Ca Mau (new) plays a leading role in developing renewable energy, with outstanding advantages in offshore wind power, solar power and biomass power - key economic sectors in the process of green energy transition and sustainable development.

Five Pivots – Creating a Solid Foundation

2025 is a pivotal year in the socio-economic development plan for the 2021-2025 period and in preparation for the new period after the merger. The People's Committee of Ca Mau province has launched a widespread emulation movement throughout the entire political system, setting a target of GRDP growth of 8% or more in 2025 (according to Resolution 01/NQ-HDND dated February 21, 2025).

In particular, Ca Mau province focuses on key tasks: accelerating public investment disbursement; removing obstacles for key projects; administrative reform; improving PCI, PAPI, PAR-index; developing circular - ecological agriculture; promoting investment in renewable energy, seafood processing, logistics, urban areas...

“The province will resolutely implement key tasks, striving for double-digit GRDP growth in the 2026-2030 period. At the same time, we will promote breakthroughs in science and technology, digital transformation, innovation in personnel work, building a creative government, and better serving the people. This is a solid foundation for successfully organizing Party Congresses at all levels, towards the 14th National Congress of the Party,” affirmed the Secretary of the Ca Mau Provincial Party Committee.

Ca Mau province resolutely implements key tasks, striving for double-digit GRDP growth in the 2026-2030 period.

Speaking at the ceremony to announce the Resolution on the arrangement of provincial and communal administrative units on June 30, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Le Minh Hoan affirmed: "The merger of Ca Mau and Bac Lieu provinces is a strategic step with profound practical significance, aiming to improve the effectiveness of state management and the operational efficiency of the political system."

According to Mr. Le Minh Hoan, this is not only a matter of reorganizing the administrative apparatus, but also a major policy decision to open up new development space for the southernmost region, creating opportunities to exploit potential, promote regional linkages, create new mechanisms, new driving forces for rapid and sustainable development, better serve the people and form a new growth pole for the Mekong Delta.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Le Minh Hoan believes that the cadres, civil servants, public employees, workers and the people will continue to preserve and spread the spirit of responsibility, generosity, kindness and aspiration for development like Hon Khoai in the past - an indomitable fire in the midst of the waves.

“We are not only working, but also continuing to write the proud story of a land rich in tradition and identity, entering a new development space,” Mr. Le Minh Hoan emphasized.

At the end of his speech, Mr. Le Minh Hoan sent a message imbued with the spirit of Ca Mau: “From shrimp, grains of salt, drops of honey, and traditional music – Ca Mau will proudly tell the story: ‘We are not far away. We are the bow of the boat tearing through the waves, starting a new journey’.

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Source: https://baophapluat.vn/mo-rong-khong-gian-tang-toc-phat-trien-cho-vung-cuc-nam-to-quoc-post553779.html