A critical time to grant strong autonomy to Dong Nai

On the threshold of the first Provincial Party Congress for the 2025–2030 term, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Vo Tan Duc granted an interview to reporters from Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television. The interview highlighted some of the province’s outstanding socio-economic achievements over the past five years. In particular, the Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee affirmed decisive actions to “cross the finish line” with double-digit growth in 2025, and called on the central government to soon consider a specific mechanism – the “key” for Dong Nai to truly “take off” and fulfill its role as a growth driver for the entire region.

Building a new, solid development foundation

Could you share the most prominent and exemplary achievements that Dong Nai has recorded after five years of implementing the Resolution of the Provincial Party Congress for the 2020–2025 term?

Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Vo Tan Duc

After five years of implementing the Resolution of the Provincial Party Congress for the 2020–2025 term, Dong Nai has made important achievements across all sectors.

First, the economy has maintained a solid growth pace, with Dong Nai’s economic scale ranking fourth nationwide and its structure shifting in the right direction. The province’s economic growth rate in the 2021–2025 period reached 7.11% per year. In 2025, its gross regional domestic product (GRDP) hits VND 694,457 billion, while per capita GRDP amounts to VND 153.7 million per year, equivalent to around USD 6,066.

Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Vo Tan Duc presents gifts and encourages workers at the construction site of Ho Chi Minh City’s ring road 3 project in Dong Nai.

Second, budget management has been conducted in a disciplined manner, with total budget revenue for the 2021–2025 term reaching VND 378,254 billion. The province has made strong efforts and new strides in building a transparent and equitable investment and business environment.

Third, the effectiveness of public investment has been enhanced, fully promoting its leading role; resources from all economic sectors have been mobilized, creating momentum for economic growth. In the 2021–2025 period, total social development investment in Dong Nai reached VND 725,746 billion.

Fourth, awareness of the role and position of culture has been raised across the political system and society. Education and training quality has improved, gradually meeting human resource needs, enhancing public knowledge, and nurturing talent. Population and healthcare work have produced positive results. Care for people with meritorious service and social protection beneficiaries has been prioritized. National target programs have been implemented effectively.

Fifth, national defense, security, and external relations have been strengthened; sovereignty has been firmly safeguarded, border and national security ensured, social order maintained, and international integration promoted.

Thus, it can be affirmed that after five years, Dong Nai has built a solid and new foundation for development, enhanced its scale, capacity, and position, and is ready for the next breakthrough phase, contributing to the overall growth of the Southern Key Economic Region and the country as a whole.

A specific mechanism expected to drive regional growth

To maximize the benefits of its strategic infrastructure system and strengthen its role as a growth nucleus that drives spillover effects across the region, economic experts believe that Dong Nai urgently needs the central government to consider granting it a specific mechanism. What is your view on this matter?

First of all, I completely agree with the assessment of the economic experts. A specific mechanism for Dong Nai is not just the province’s aspiration but an objective and inevitable requirement to unlock its full potential and match its new stature.

Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Vo Tan Duc presents gifts and encourages workers at the construction site of Ho Chi Minh City’s ring road 3 project in Dong Nai.

Following the reorganization of provincial-level administrative units under the National Assembly’s resolution, Dong Nai now covers an area of about 12,737 square kilometers, ranking ninth nationwide, with a population of over 4.49 million people, ranking fifth nationwide, and being home to diverse ethnic and religious communities. The province now ranks fourth nationwide in economic scale.

Dong Nai is not only a bustling hub of industry, commerce, and services but also a vast land rich in resources, with great potential for high-tech agriculture and eco-tourism. It has affirmed its role not only as a regional growth nucleus within the Southern Key Economic Region but also as a strong link connecting the Central Highlands and South Central Coast.

In particular, Dong Nai is home to vital expressways such as Bien Hoa–Vung Tau, Ben Luc–Long Thanh, Phan Thiet–Dau Giay, Dau Giay–Lien Khuong, Ho Chi Minh City’s ring roads 3 and 4, Gia Nghia–Chon Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City–Chon Thanh, and above all, the Long Thanh International Airport – a national strategic infrastructure project. These are “golden links” that affirm the province’s full conditions to become a new development center of the South.

However, to realize this potential and overcome bottlenecks in management, investment, and development, the province is in dire need of the Central government’s consideration and issuance of a specific mechanism similar to those applied to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, and Khanh Hoa. Such a mechanism will provide the legal framework and new growth drivers for Dong Nai to fully leverage its advantages, develop commensurately with its potential, play its role as a regional growth engine, and contribute significantly to national development.

Right now, what particular issues or priority areas does Dong Nai propose for such a specific mechanism?

We are studying and will propose that the Central government issue a specific mechanism for Dong Nai, initially focusing on key areas such as: strong decentralization in planning and investment, allowing the province to take greater initiative in deciding on key projects and land management. In order for Dong Nai to secure greater financial flexibility, the province should be allowed to retain a higher percentage of budget revenues for reinvestment in infrastructure, education, and healthcare projects. In terms of breakthrough policies on talent attraction, special incentives will be issued to attract experts and high-quality workers in aviation, logistics, commerce, and high technology.

“With the solidarity, determination, and high consensus of the entire political system, the business community, and all strata of society, I am confident that Dong Nai will successfully achieve its growth target and budget revenue of VND 100 trillion in 2025.”

Comrade VO TAN DUC, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee.

We firmly believe that with the Central government’s support and the solidarity of the Provincial Party organization, authorities, and people, a specific mechanism will be the “key” for Dong Nai to truly take off, turning the province into a place worth living, working, and investing in. This not only benefits Dong Nai but is also a major contribution to the country’s overall development.

Confident that Dong Nai will achieve double-digit growth in 2025

A crucial and urgent task set for the province is to achieve double-digit economic growth in 2025, including VND 100 trillion in budget revenue. With limited time remaining, what message would you like to convey to authorities, citizens, and the business community to accelerate progress and successfully accomplish this overarching goal?

In 2025, Dong Nai has set numerous tasks and solutions to achieve double-digit growth. This is an extremely challenging mission but also demonstrates the strong determination of the Provincial Party organization, authorities, and people after the administrative reorganization.

One of its major missions is to exceed the budget revenue set in the resolution and strive to achieve VND 100 trillion. In addition to regular measures, the Provincial People’s Committee has introduced several supplementary solutions.

With the limited time left in 2025, as the province is in the “sprint” phase, I want to emphasize three key following messages:

For local authorities at all level: there’s a need to maximize responsibility, accelerate action, strictly adhere to directions, promptly address obstacles facing businesses and citizens, while tightening discipline in revenue and expenditure management.

For the business community: the province will always stand by enterprises, ensuring a transparent and fair investment environment, while encouraging the businesses to foster innovation, actively engage in production and business, and contribute positively to the budget and overall development.

For the people in the whole province, it is necessary to uphold the tradition of unity, join hands with government and businesses, practice thrift, strengthen law compliance, especially in tax obligations, to help Dong Nai successfully accomplish its development goals.

Reporter: Thank you very much!

By Thanh Hai, Giang Duc - Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha