The development of Tây Ninh’s transportation infrastructure not only provides convenient conditions for travel but also plays an important role in stimulating the province’s tourism industry.
PV VTC News interviewed Mr. Dương Văn Thắng – Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Tây Ninh Province about the synchrony between transportation development and the tourism industry, which has created a comprehensive development ecosystem and contributed positively to the local economy.
The 30/4 Road in Tây Ninh City has been expanded to 6 lanes. (Photo: Báo Tây Ninh)
– Sir, what solutions have contributed to the recent development of transportation in Tây Ninh Province?
Transportation is the sector that leads and opens the way for the development of other economic sectors. The reality has proven that any locality with complete transportation infrastructure, meaning it has a system of highways, airports, seaports, will develop rapidly and sustainably.
In terms of perspective and awareness, the 11th Provincial Party Congress of Tây Ninh for the term 2020 – 2025 identified the development of transportation infrastructure as a breakthrough of the province. This is a completely appropriate policy that has received the unanimous support of the people, as well as the system of political institutions, which has been thoroughly implemented with great determination.
To implement the above perspective and awareness, the province has focused on mobilizing resources from the local budget, the central budget, and other social resources for transportation development. In the period 2021 – 2025, the total capital from the provincial budget allocated for midterm construction is 20,000 billion VND, of which the province has allocated 6,000 billion VND exclusively for transportation. If calculated in proportion, it accounts for more than 1/4 of the total investment capital for development in the midterm period.
Mr. Dương Văn Thắng, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Tây Ninh Province. (Photo: Báo Tây Ninh)
In addition, the province has made efforts to utilize and take advantage of central resources to invest in projects in the province. For example, the border patrol road project invested by the Ministry of Defense, Military Region 7 in the first phase has a total investment of about 1,500 billion VND.
At present, about 160km has been completed in this project, which has great significance for national defense and security, as well as for the people in the border areas to develop the economy and society. When the road is completed, the people will be happy and they will be able to produce and live with peace of mind as the infrastructure is now complete.
Most recently, the province has collaborated with the Ministry of Transport to start the project of Highway Hồ Chí Minh, Châu Thành – Đức Hòa section. This is an extremely important project that, when completed, will connect Tây Ninh with the Southeast, Southwest, and Central Highlands regions.
– According to you, which key infrastructure projects will contribute significantly to the positive development of transportation in Tây Ninh?
The first one is the Hồ Chí Minh – Mộc Bài Expressway, which is a project that the Provincial Party Committee and Government of Tây Ninh have identified as extremely important for planning the province’s economy and society.
This project not only benefits the two localities but is also crucial for the entire Southeast region. When the expressway is completed, it will connect the Phnom Penh – Bàu Bàng Expressway, which connects Phnom Penh to other countries.
Tây Ninh Province is very concerned and has been cooperating well with Ho Chi Minh City to implement this project. Currently, the project is under review by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and there is a possibility that it will be approved by the Prime Minister for investment in the near future.
Overview of Tây Ninh City. (Photo: Dương Vĩnh Tuyên)
The second project that Tây Ninh is implementing is the Gò Dầu – Xa Mát International Border Gate Expressway. Currently, the project’s feasibility study report has been prepared and we will try to hold a meeting soon. The Government has assigned Tây Ninh with the authority to decide on the investment form of public-private partnership (PPP) for this project. Accordingly, the province will invest in land clearance, while the investor will finance the operation and toll collection.
Thirdly, Tây Ninh will focus on completing the 787B, 789, N8 highway component projects. These are important roads connecting Tây Ninh to Long An through many districts of the province, with a total investment of over 3,000 billion VND. These projects have started and efforts will be made to complete them in 2024.
– In recent times, the number of tourists coming to Tây Ninh has been increasing, and this is largely due to the development of local transportation, isn’t it?
Currently, the number of tourists visiting the Bà Đen National Tourism Area has reached 5 million. Every day, every month, every year, when tourists return to Tây Ninh, they see changes and differences in transportation infrastructure.
The improved and developed transportation reduces travel time and costs for tourists, thus increasing the number of visitors to the province each year.
In addition, Tây Ninh’s tourism industry has been well-invested, with increasingly attractive products, contributing to the growing number of tourists coming to the province.
Thank you very much!
