Dr. Tran Dinh Thien: Developing high-class Hue urban in the direction of a heritage city
With its advantages in culture, history and natural landscape, Hue possesses immense potential to develop into a high-class urban in the direction of a heritage city. Coupled with ongoing, infrastructures are upgraded and investmented in, which are the important basis for the city to expand smart, eco-friendly urban areas and high-class resorts, attracting large investors.
Compared to other centrally-governed municipalities, Hue's level of urban development is still relatively low. While not a major industrial urban, Hue boasts a rich and diverse cultural and tourism resource base that is unparalleled. Therefore, Hue needs to identify its advantages in developing high-end tourism services, high-quality education and healthcare centers, and science and technology hubs to be worthy of its status as a centrally-governed municipality.
Hue urban will have many changes when Hue becomes a centrally-governed municipality (Photo: Le Dinh Hoang)
When Hue becomes a centrally-governed municipality, it will undoubtedly be more appealing to domestic and foreign investors due to its enhanced political and administrative status and increased Central funding; this is an opportunity for Hue to improve its infrastructure and business environment.
Hue needs to prioritize the development of a comprehensive urban planning strategy, the promotion of sustainable urban development, and the guarantee of a balance between conservation and development. The city also needs to invest in a modern, environmentally friendly public transportation system and improve inter-regional connectivity; and, focus on attracting investments in non-polluting industries such as information technology, semiconductors, as well as high-quality education, healthcare, and tourism services.
Mr. Tran Van My: Building specialized industrial parks to create competitive advantages for Hue
Hue's status as a centrally-governed municipality will open up many new investment opportunities. The city will become a destination for many FDI investors if it seizes this moment.
In addition to promoting investment and fostering a friendly and transparent investment environment, Hue needs to build an ecosystem to support businesses. This includes establishing a center to support FDI enterprises, where it provides information, consultation, and supportive solutions to businesses, especially new FDI businesses entering Hue market. It is also essential to train highly qualified and proactive management cadres, with strong foreign language skills to support businesses where needed.
Furthermore, Hue needs to invest heavily in infrastructure and develop logistics services to reduce transportation time, optimize costs, and become competitive with domestic and foreign ports, thereby creating a competitive advantage in attracting investment. The city needs to focus on investing in infrastructure, increasing capacity to serve passengers and goods, and transforming Phu Bai airport into a major air transport hub of the Central region. It also needs to expand and upgrade Chan May port to increase its capacity for exporting, importing goods, and welcoming international cruise ships; upgrading key transport routes, facilitating trade performance.
Production activities at Kimlong Motor Hue
Hue City must consider developing specialized industrial zones, as this is a new global trend. The specialized industrial zones will help create complete production value chains, reduce costs, and increase competitiveness for businesses. Investing in these specialized industrial zones is entirely consistent with the province's development orientation and the target market of businesses. Therefore, from now on, the city should have a clear and long-term development orientation to form these specialized industrial zones to create a superior competitive advantage.
One of the challenges faced by FDI businesses in Hue is the availability of high-quality human resources. Therefore, Hue needs to prepare a workforce that meets both quantity and quality requirements to create an advantage in attracting investment. To achieve this, Hue needs to conduct a comprehensive and detailed survey of the workforce in the province to determine its ability to meet the labor demand of the businesses that it aims to attract. It should also improve the practical training system to meet the job requirements of the businesses. Additionally, the City needs to have policies to attract talent through housing development policies for workers, building a developed education, entertainment, and civil infrastructure system to make Hue an ideal place for talented people to live and work. By doing so, Hue will be not only a destination for businesses, but also a home for talented people.
Mr. Ngo Viet Nam Son, an architect: Balancing the goals of economic development and heritage preservation
Hue City has the potential to become a model city for the balance between heritage preservation and promotion and economic development, but this requires a clear development strategy and effective management mechanisms.
Hue City becoming a centrally-governed municipality on the basis of preserving and promoting heritage values of the ancient capital and cultural identity is a strategic move that helps Hue become a significant cultural, tourism, and economic center of the region and the whole country. However, to achieve this goal, Hue City must ensure the harmonious development between preservation and socio-economic development.
Currently, the Northern part of Hue City (Phu Xuan District) is home to many constructions, architectures, valuable tangible and intangible cultural heritage values, such as Hue Monuments Complex, poetry on Hue royal court architecture, and royal court music, etc. Meanwhile, the Southern part (Thuan Hoa District) is a promising area for socio-economic development with new urban areas, industrial zones, services, and modern infrastructure. However, the development model between these two areas is not yet clear; the connection between the Northern and Southern parts still needs to be improved to increase the connectivity and mutual support.
Prior to Hue City becoming a centrally-governed municipality, the problem of harmoniously balancing the development of these two areas had been considered. However, with the establishment of Hue City as a centrally-governed municipality, this issue requires more fundamental solutions commensurate with the new status. Accordingly, Hue City must develop a comprehensive development strategy that defines the roles and functions of the two areas; in which, the Northern part is an area for preserving and promoting cultural values, and the Southern part is an economic and social development driver, but still ensuring the connectivity and complementarity between the two areas through harmonious urban space rules to avoid independence in interests.
Preserving and promoting heritage values is a major orientation of Hue (Photo: Le Dinh Hoang)
Hue has many advantages in heritage preservation and development with many special mechanisms to preserve and promote heritage and cultural values. Therefore, the problem of taking advantage of these mechanisms and having additional solutions to mobilize resources, international cooperation, and promote the application of digital technology in preservation is being considered. The Southern part, with the orientation of building clean and high-tech urban areas and industrial zones in a green and friendly direction, will have to promote tourism services connected to the Northern part, creating integrated tourism routes (culture - ecology - technology). At the same time, focus on developing inter-regional transport infrastructure, especially routes connecting the center to Phu Bai airport and Chan May port to promote new maritime-oriented economic development.
In addition, the story of developing human resources and raising community awareness of heritage preservation and promotion will also contribute to enhancing the capacity for Hue's harmonious development between preservation and economic development. Strengthening international cooperation, especially with the UNESCO and other international organizations to mobilize resources for preservation; learning from the experiences of development and preservation with other cities will also bring Hue valuable lessons.
Mr. Cung Trong Cuong: Promoting business development will help solve the budget balance problem
Hue City, as a centrally-governed municipality, will be a central urban, a growth pole, with a spillover effect to promote the overall development of the region. On that basis, the Central Government will allocate more resources to invest in construction, leading to the development of all aspects, from life, economy, politics, to society. With this new position, Hue will open up many opportunities, attract more investors, and many large projects will be implemented, contributing to budget revenue, solving employment and increasing income for people. Local businesses will also find it easier to seek new investment opportunities when people's living standards are raised, and to participate in the value chains of large businesses (supplying inputs, and distributing outputs, ...). When businesses develop, the budget balancing problem will be easier.
In fact, recently, Hue has invested in developing to promote businesses and build an investment and business environment. As evidence, the Satisfaction Index of Public Administration Services (SIPAS) and the Public Administration Reform Index (PAR Index) in 2023 increased by 8 and 2 ranks, respectively, compared to 2022; the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) was in the top 10 nationwide (ranked 8th); as well as the Local Innovation Index ranked 2nd out of 14 provinces in the North Central and Central Coast region, and 14th out of 63 provinces/cities nationwide. However, when Hue has become a centrally-governed municipality with new special mechanisms and new conditions, stronger institutions are needed to promote businesses, considering business development as the driving force to make Hue City a driving force for the development of the region and the whole country.
Trade promotion activities boost businesses
Accordingly, Hue City needs to focus on improving its investment and business environment. A transparent and favorable business environment will create conditions for businesses to innovate and develop. Solutions to promote businesses entering the market and supporting business innovation also need to be more fundamental. Investment incentives also need to be calculated appropriately, and meet the needs of investors, especially in the areas that Hue is prioritizing to attract.
At the same time, Hue needs to organize trade connection events, fairs, and exhibitions so as to promote the products and services of businesses. Connecting with international markets will help businesses increase their presence and competitiveness. More investment should be made in units that are carrying out the tasks of supporting and promoting businesses to build a strong and effective business support ecosystem, creating playgrounds and environment for businesses to develop.