Vietnam has unveiled an ambitious plan to develop industries,
especially small-scale ones, and handicraft in its seven northern
provinces bordering China, to meet local demand and export to the
neighbor country, local newspaper Vietnam News reported
Friday.
Under the plan on developing industries in mountainous districts
of the provinces of Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Cao
Bang, Lang Son and Quang Ninh to 2010 recently approved by the
Industry Ministry, Vietnam will focus on promoting mineral
extraction, agro-forestry processing, and production of
construction materials, fertilizers, chemicals and hydroelectricity
stations.
The country will encourage every economic sector, especially
state-owned one, to participate in developing the industries in the
districts, home to abundant natural resources, including minerals,
forests, rivers and streams, to facilitate foreign trade.
Top priority will be given to fields which involve in
processing, producing goods for export and packaging materials, and
packaging products for export to China. Lower priority will go to
textile, rattan ware, wood carving, and furniture.
Specifically, Vietnam will center on producing rattan, bamboo
products and processing agro-forestry items in Muong Nhe District
in Dien Bien, building small hydroelectricity stations, exploiting
and processing minerals, and producing construction materials,
agro-forestry products, meat, animal feed and farm tools in the
three districts of Muong Te, Sin Ho and Phong Tho in Lai Chau.
The country will also center on exploiting minerals, processing
agro-forestry products, manufacturing items for export to China,
and building small and medium hydroelectricity stations and
fertilizer and chemical plants in Lao Cai, including its Lao Cai
City, and the four districts of Bat Xat, Bac Ha, Bao Thang and Sa
Pa.
Besides, the country will promote the small and medium mineral
exploiting and processing industry, build small hydropower plants,
and develop handicrafts in Ha Giang, and strengthen Quang Ninh's
agro-forestry processing and seafood industries for export to
China.
The two-way trade between China and Vietnam, which stood at
US$8.2 billion in 2005, is expected to reach US$10 billion in 2006,
according to the Chinese Commerce Ministry.
(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2006)
