 A zoning plan submitted by the Ministry of Construction to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung envisages developing the southern key economic zone into a gateway for international trade and a national and regional business hub.
The zone includes Ho Chi Minh City and the seven neighboring provinces of Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Long An, Dong Nai, Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Tien Giang, and measures 30,404 square kilometers.
The plan earmarks zones for shopping malls and other commercial facilities within a 30km radius of the hub’s center.
It also proposes building two belt roads around the zone’s center to link different areas, and expressways linking HCM City - Trung Luong - Can Tho; HCMC - Moc Bai; HCMC - Long Thanh - Dau Giay - Da Lat; and HCMC - Bien Hoa - Vung Tau.
The ministry has also recommended setting up an agency in charge of developing the southern key economic zone, and urged HCMC and the provinces to review their urban plans to ensure they dovetailed with the zoning plan.
The zone is expected to have a population of 20--22 million by 2020, with 16–17 million living in urban areas.
In 2050 the urbanization rate is likely to rise to 90 percent, and the total population to 30 million.
(Source: SGGP) |
