(PLVN) - What can be seen from Ninh Thuan today is the transformation of sun and wind into competitive advantages. But hidden within those "competitive advantages" is the determination in leadership and administration, along with the perseverance to pursue to the very end the goals set by the political system of Ninh Thuan province.
"Competitive Advantage" from Sun and Wind
"In the midst of a sunny, windy, and sandy region, more than 10 years ago, a nearly 2-hectare factory was established at Thanh Hai Industrial Park, Phan Rang - Thap Cham City, Ninh Thuan Province, laying its first foundation stone. This is the largest aloe vera processing plant in the country, operated by VietFarm Food Joint Stock Company (VietFarm)," recalled Mr. Nguyen Van Thu, Chairman of the Board of VietFarm.
After many surveys, the company determined this would be a major raw material region and decided to build the factory.
To date, after a persistent 10-year journey, VietFarm has achieved a processing capacity of about 140 tons of aloe vera leaves per day, with 40% of its products exported to 22 countries worldwide, including demanding markets such as the EU, Japan, Korea, and Middle Eastern countries...
More than 400 workers, all locals, have become experienced and skilled laborers after training, earning salaries from 6 to 10 million VND/month. In addition, VietFarm provides stable employment for thousands of local farmers cultivating aloe vera, creating raw material growing areas in the districts of Thuan Bac, Thuan Nam, Ninh Son, Ninh Hai, Phan Rang – Thap Cham, and Bac Ai.
Currently, the entire province has about 250 hectares of aloe vera cultivation. However, VietFarm is just one of many major enterprises investing in high-tech agriculture (HTA) in Ninh Thuan.
Mr. Pham Van Hau – Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council of Ninh Thuan Province, affirmed that compared to other localities, at this time, Ninh Thuan is one of the provinces with competitive advantages to attract HTA enterprises over other regions.
According to Ninh Thuan's leaders, the first "competitive advantage" is a modern irrigation system and 21 reservoirs allowing Ninh Thuan to control 500 million cubic meters of water for production. The second advantage is a large, clean land fund, unaffected by pesticides. Third, the locality has high radiation, lots of sunshine, and low humidity, which reduces pest problems. The climate is suitable for many crops such as apples, grapes, asparagus, and aloe vera. All these factors create a unique competitiveness for Ninh Thuan agriculture.
Interregional Economic Connectivity
"In mid-October 2024, Ninh Thuan organized an investment connection and promotion conference in Dong Nai. This was an opportunity for investors from both provinces to explore cooperation opportunities in infrastructure, production, business... creating a breakthrough for Ninh Thuan's industry," said Mr. Tran Quoc Nam, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ninh Thuan Province, before 100 enterprises from Dong Nai.
Introducing Ninh Thuan's potential to businesses, Mr. Tran Quoc Nam stated that Ninh Thuan, with its 105km-long coastline, many bays and beautiful beaches, and the deep-water port of Ca Na capable of receiving vessels up to 300,000 tons, has its own strengths to develop the marine economy, tourism, urban development, industry, energy, and logistics sectors.
In the future, Ninh Thuan will have many important projects such as Thanh Son Airport and the North-South high-speed railway. In particular, the Ca Na industrial park, with an area of 827 hectares awaiting approval, promises to be one of the main drivers of the province's economic development in the future.
At the conference, under the witness of leaders from both provinces and the Young Entrepreneurs Association of Dong Nai, enterprises from Dong Nai signed memorandums of understanding on investment cooperation with the Management Board of Ninh Thuan Industrial Parks.
Belief in Internal Strengths
The story of Ninh Thuan overcoming difficulties has been on the right track and persistent with its goal, not only in calling for investment or developing HTA. Many still remember that at the end of 2016, the National Assembly halted the implementation of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project. This disrupted the province's growth and development scenarios previously approved by the Prime Minister: for the 2010-2020 period, the main pillar of economic development was based on the growth and development of the nuclear power plant.
In that context, based on the identified potential and advantages in renewable energy, Ninh Thuan was forced to "shift" its strategy, adjusting towards developing renewable energy to "fill the gap." Coupled with the Government's support policy (Resolution 115) to halt nuclear power, this contributed to transforming Ninh Thuan's growth scenario.
To date, after 10 years, the province has 57 projects/3,750MW, creating strong momentum for socio-economic development, turning Ninh Thuan into a leading national center for interregional services and renewable energy. The disadvantages of sun and wind have been turned into competitive advantages and development opportunities for Ninh Thuan.
At the end of November 2024, the Central Party Executive Committee basically agreed on the policy to restart the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project and continue to study the nuclear power program in Vietnam. Immediately afterward, the Government submitted to the National Assembly the policy to restart the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project. The Government put forward three perspectives for nuclear power development: for peaceful purposes, ensuring national energy security and sustainable development, associated with the goal of net zero emissions by 2050; ensuring the highest level of safety, minimizing risks to people and the environment; and linked with the comprehensive development of the national energy industry ecosystem.
The restart of nuclear power is good news not only for Ninh Thuan, as it also carries strategic significance for national security. This will enable Vietnam to advance further in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, as nuclear technology is not only limited to electricity production but also plays an important role in helping Vietnam enhance its national scientific and technological capacity and participate in the nuclear power industry supply chain.
What can be seen from Ninh Thuan is the transformation of sun and wind into competitive advantages. But hidden within those "competitive advantages" is the determination in leadership and administration, and the perseverance to pursue to the very end the goals set by Ninh Thuan's political system, as expressed by entrepreneur Nguyen Van Thu: "VietFarm has achieved its current success thanks to the close attention of local leaders, facilitation of legal procedures, business connections, trade promotion, and brand promotion both inside and outside the province, not only for VietFarm but also for other enterprises investing in Ninh Thuan." These valuable factors have made Mr. Nguyen Van Thu even more attached to Ninh Thuan's aloe vera.
Vinh Hoa