Change in the heroic homeland
In 2003, Chu Lai Economic Zone (KKT), Nui Thanh District, Quang Nam Province was established under the decision of the Prime Minister. This is the first KKT in the country, becoming an important lever to promote economic development not only of Quang Nam but also of the Central key economic region. After more than two decades, Chu Lai Economic Zone has contributed more than 70% of the value of industrial production and budget revenue of the province.
One of the important milestones in the development journey of Chu Lai Economic Zone is the establishment of Thaco - Truong Hai Automobile Mechanical Complex, becoming the largest automobile and supporting industry production center in the country. Established more than 20 years ago, THACO has gone from a small enterprise to a leading multi-industry industrial group in Vietnam.
THACO Chairman Tran Ba Duong said that thanks to preferential policies and support from the government, THACO has developed strongly in Quang Nam. The Group will continue to invest in and develop waterway and road infrastructure, aiming to turn the province into a logistics center in the Central region. Chu Lai has also risen to become a center of the mechanical - automobile and logistics industry with a scale of the top in the ASEAN region with nearly 15,000 workers. Reversal
From a soldier to a businessman
Mr. Le Van Minh (72 years old, Thang Binh district), a veteran, returned to his hometown with empty hands after the war. He recalled: My village at that time had nothing left but piles of broken bricks. People struggle to make a living, those who have the strength buy a plot of land to grow potatoes, those who don't have to find a job to hire."
However, unable to bear poverty, Mr. Minh determined to start a business. From a small wood workshop, he developed into an export wood furniture manufacturing enterprise, creating stable jobs for dozens of local workers.
"Half a century after the liberation of our homeland, Quang Nam has risen strongly, from a land exhausted by war, now becoming a bright spot for the development of the Central region" - Mr. Minh was moved.
In addition to boosting industry, Quang Nam also pays special attention to tourism and heritage conservation. Hoi An - the famous ancient city of the province, is increasingly attracting international tourists. My Son relic site, traditional craft villages such as Thanh Ha pottery and My Nghe silk continue to develop, becoming the pride of the people of Quang Nam.
In 2024, the Quang Nam tourism industry welcomed more than 8 million visitors, with total social income from tourism reaching more than VND 21,600 billion, a record high to date.
Turning challenges into development opportunities
Mr. Le Van Dung - Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Nam province - shared with Lao Dong: "On the day of the province's re-establishment in 1997, Quang Nam was one of the poorest provinces in the country, 60% of its annual budget depended on the central government's aid source. However, by 2024, the province's GRDP growth had reached 7.1%, down 8.25% in 2023. Total budget revenue in the area reached VND 27,600 billion, up 10.1%. Each year, thousands of billions of VND are contributed to the central budget, creating jobs for more than 62,000 local workers....
According to Mr. Dung, Quang Nam is in a period of strong development, attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) with 241 FDI projects still in effect, with a total registered capital of more than 6.45 billion USD, ranking 20th in the country. Infrastructure investment projects such as international airports, deep-water seaports, and industrial parks are being implemented smoothly. Mr. Dung believes that in the next 5-10 years, the economic scale of the province can increase many times, with a double-digit growth rate.
Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Van Dung said that Quang Nam is in good conditions to implement international airport projects, deep-water seaports and industrial parks. If the opportunity is well taken advantage of, the province can attract about VND50,000 billion in FDI capital, achieving 10% growth this year and aiming for double digits in the following years.
