Workshop on “Green growth – Model for sustainable development of Dalat City”

In collaboration with the People’s Committee of Lam Dong province, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) held the workshop on “Green growth – Model for sustainable development ​​of Dalat city” on 21 September 2013 in Dalat, Lam Dong province.

The leadership at the workshop included Prof.Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang, Member of the Central Party Committee, President of VASS; Mr. Huynh Duc Hoa, Secretary of Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People’s Council of Lam Dong province; Mr. Nguyen Xuan Tien, Member of the Central Party Committee, Vice Secretary of the Provincial Committee of the Party, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Lam Dong province.

Approximately 100 participants attended the workshop. Guests seated at the workshop also included Prof.Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang, Member of the Central Party Committee, President of VASS; Prof.Dr. Do Hoai Nam, Former Member of the Central Party Committee, Former President of VASS, Chairman of the Board of Graduate Academy of Social Sciences, VASS; Prof.Dr. Nguyen Quang Thuan, Deputy President of VASS; scholars, experts and managers from VASS, Vietnam Academy of Sciences and Technology, Central Economic Department, Government Office, Directing Board of Central Highlands, Vietnam Association of Economic Science, and University of Economics in Hochiminh City.

From Lam Dong province, there was the presence of Mr. Huynh Duc Hoa, Secretary of the Provincial Committee of the Party, Chairman of the People’s Council of Lam Dong province; Mr. Nguyen Xuan Tien, Member of the Central Party Committee, Vice Secretary of the Provincial Committee of the Party, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Lam Dong province; the delegates from the Provincial Party Committee, People’s Committee of Lam Dong province, departments and agencies, the Party Committee and People’s Committee of Dalat City, as well as participants from districts and towns and representatives from universities and enterprises in Lam Dong province and Dalat city

In the introductory speech, Prof.Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang emphasized that the concern of the Party and the State at present was to identify a specific mechanism for quickening and pushing up the development of special economic zones (SEZs) in provinces with particular advantages. He suggested a clarification of specific values​​ and differences of Dalat as well as a thorough discussion about the spatial expansion of Dalat and the model of building a green and modern city of Dalat. Besides, the identification of Dalat’s key sectors and main products and how to relate them together would play an important role in promoting the values of Dalat’s particular characteristics. It was necessary to discuss and propose specific approaches and mechanisms, based on the thinking of market economy and international integration, in order to take advantage of Dalat’s different values​​. Building a particular model of administrative-economic units for Dalat should be considered together with suggestions of mechanisms, specific policies and incentives to allow the most independent administration and economic freedom within the framework of the State’s provisions.

Twelve papers out of 16 papers received were presented at the workshop. Thirty opinions posed focused on evaluating the potentials and unique advantages of Dalat as well as the achievements, restrictions and causes in the process of Dalat’s development. Based on the interpretation of opportunities, challenges and the perspective of groundbreaking development, the model of development for Dalat as well as the mechanisms and solutions to achieve that goal were proposed. The discussion livened up with candid and objective opinions, which would serve not only as the valuable scientific and practical backgrounds for building Dalat’s model of development, but also the important documents for the construction of the Proposal of specific mechanisms and policies for the socio-economic development of Dalat city until 2030 and towards 2050.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Huynh Duc Hoa, Secretary of Lam Dong Provincial Party Committee, highly appreciated the outcomes of the workshop, particularly the consistency in the assessment of the unique potentials and advantages of Dalat. Many the scholars and experts agreed on the achievements as well as the limitations in the recent period of development of Dalat. Selecting tourism and high-tech agriculture as the major economic sectors of Dalat was also in conformity with the opinions at the workshop to build Dalat as a green and smart city of modernity and high class.

As also emphasized by the Secretary of Lam Dong Provincial Party Committee, the Central Government was so well recognized Dalat’s unique potentials and advantages that Dalat’s proposal of specific mechanisms and policies was allowed. The important question was how the authorities of Lam Dong province could identify the specific mechanisms and policies that would be feasible and really favorable to attract the attention and resources of internationally-ranked foreign investors. Mr. Hoa also admitted that due to the importance of the question raised, the development-related issues of Dalat involved many ministries and agencies. With a wide scope of discussion, the workshop might not have answered all the problems posed. Many issues were still in need of further clarification, discussion and study, which required deeper involvement of scholars and experts. Until then, the proposal of specific mechanisms and policies for Dalat would gain the approval and come to life.

In addition to the official activities of the workshop, the participants also enjoyed the field trips to some of famous tourist attractions in Dalat as well as a number of establishments producing flowers and vegetables.

Vu Hung Cuong (Ph.D)