One of the strategic policies of our Party and State is to closely combine socio-economic development with national defence and security consolidation in each area and the whole country. This content has also been paid much attention and leadership by Ninh Thuan province  with proactive, creative and practical solutions, with the aim of promoting the fast and sustainable development for the province.

Ninh Thuan is located in the Southern Central Coastal region with the intersection of National Highway 1A and National Highway 27 to the South Central Highlands. The province is home to the national railway line (North-South line), Thanh Son military air base, and it is one of the renewable and clean energy hubs, etc., so it has an important strategic position in terms of economy, defence and security. Over the years, the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee have deeply grasped, flexibly and creatively applied the Party's resolutions and directives on combining socio-economic development with defence and security strengthening, focusing on Resolution of the 13^th National Party Congress, Resolution No. 115/NQ-CP, dated August 31, 2018 of the Government on the implementation of a number of specific mechanisms and policies to support the province's socio-economic development in the period of 2018 - 2023. Notably, along with the all-round development, it gives priorities to investment and upgradation of technical infrastructure in the direction of modernity and synchronisation; steps up the development of infrastructure, especially seaports, road and irrigation systems; attracts large investment projects in industrial zones, etc. to develop the province into a centre of clean and renewable energy of the country. Tourism has been developed as a spearhead economic sector; many new urban areas and economic zones have been formed, creating dynamics, space and new appearance and promoting socio-economic development, enhancing defence and security potentials, etc. As a result, for the past three years, despite being greatly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, Ninh Thuan’s GRDP growth rate was among the top of the country (ranking fourth out of 63 provinces and cities). By the end of 2021, its  per capita GRDP and state budget revenue increased by 50 and 130 times, respectively compared to those of 1992. Its defence and military potentials and postures have been constantly consolidated and strengthened; political security, social order and safety are maintained, which make an important contribution to the country's rapid and sustainable development, and the firm protection of the Fatherland in all situations.

Reviewing the implementation of military and defence tasks in 2021

At present and in the coming years, although there have been many positive changes, Ninh Thuan still faces difficulties and challenges posed by disease, climate change, public investment resources, limitations in  renewable energy development policies, the inadequate quality of human resources, etc. This requires the province to promote the synergy of the whole political system, armed forces and the entire people into practice, speed up socio-economic development to achieve the goals that economic growth rate increases 10.84% per year in the period 2021 - 2030, and by 2030 per capita GRDP will triple that of 2021, while regularly consolidating and strengthening national defence, maintaining political security, social order and safety, and creating favourable conditions for socio-economic development.

To achieve that goal, Ninh Thuan continues to promote economic restructuring in line with the "National strategy on green growth in the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision to 2050" and Decision No. 165/QD-TTg, dated October 1, 2021 of the Prime Minister; change the growth model towards in-depth, apply science and technology, promote innovation, digital transformation, digital economy, digital society, improve the competitiveness of the economy and living standards of the people, creating a basis for developing defence and security potentials. In order to promote the strengths of each locality, it continues to invest in the fields with comparable advantages, such as: renewable energy, coastal industry, luxurious resort tourism, new urban area, high-tech agriculture, etc. In the immediate future, it will accelerate the progress of wind power, solar power and hydroelectric power projects (My Son, Tan My, ...), to fulfil the project of developing Ninh Thuan into a centre of renewable and clean energy of the whole country. In the long term, it advocates building a number of areas into key economic, political, social, defence and security hubs, creating a driving force for the development of the whole province. To do that, it actively mobilises all resources to develop urban areas, promote the construction of key tourism projects, encourage businesses and people to invest in upgrading infrastructure, accommodation, etc. to serve the development of marine tourism, eco-tourism, resort, so as to turn tourism into a spearhead economic sector, contributing to its "green and sustainable" economic development.

In the fields of agriculture, forestry and fishery, it promotes the synchronous implementation of solutions for climate change adaptation, focusing on digital transformation for a smart agriculture, investment in high-tech agricultural areas, conservation of forest and marine resources, especially the world biosphere reserve of Nui Chua National Park, etc. Continue to closely coordinate with ministries and branches to promote the development of irrigation and transport systems to create favourable infrastructure for economic development.

In addition, it pays special attention to combining economic development with strengthening national defence and security from planning to the implementation of socio-economic development in each locality and the whole province. Thoroughly grasping and implementing Conclusion No. 57-KL/TW, dated September 16, 2019 of the Politburo on the combination of economy with defence and security, and vice versa, it continues to review, appraise, supplement and adjust the planning of industrial parks, urban areas and rural areas in tandem with the master plan on building military posture of the defence area, ensuring that all economic activities are considered and combined in harmony with defence and security, especially in the zoning and planning of industrial parks and new urban areas, etc. In order to realise the goals and meet the requirements, it directs the Provincial Military Command to closely coordinate with departments, branches and localities to mobilise and allocate adequate budgets for the construction of military projects; strengthen measures to manage and properly use defence land; make master plan for using defence land with relevance to each plan and project of infrastructure and socio-economic development of the province to ensure that defence arrangements are suitable and beneficial to socio-economic development.

In order to constantly strengthen its defence potential and strength, the province focuses on leading and directing the restructuring of its armed forces’ standing units towards neat, compact and strong direction according to regulations; building militia, self-defence, and reserve forces with reasonable strength and suitable for each locality with importance being attached to quality and reliability. Military agencies, units and localities should focus on improving the quality of training, conduct provincial and district-level defensive area drills in a serious and effective manner to ensure the smooth coordination among components in the event of defence and security situations. In the current situation, in order to meet the increasing requirements of defence and security tasks, it attaches importance to the promotion of the role of functional agencies, especially the Provincial Military Command, the Border Guard, the Police in coordinating with the units of the Navy and the Coast Guard operating in the area to grasp and exchange situations, coordinate in firmly protecting the area, as well as promptly handle the incidents effectively, fight against all kinds of crimes to perform well the task of protecting national security, maintaining social order and safety, building the all people’s national defence, people's security and the all-people’s defence posture, the people's security posture strong.

Socio-economic development associated with consolidating and strengthening national defence and security has always been of top concern of the province. With strong determination, efforts and solidarity of the armed forces, people and the whole political system, the experience, bravery and achievements in the past 30 years, Ninh Thuan will strive to soon realise the goal and aspiration of building the province and the country prosperous and happy.

TRAN QUOC NAM, President of the Provincial People's Committee