* Quy Nhon city will be an economic centre and a transportation hub linking to roads and seaports for the service of the Central Highlands.
The Prime Minister has approved a master plan on socio-economic development of the central key economic zone, aiming to turn it into an entrepot and a centre of trade and processing industry in the greater Mekong region and the whole Asia-Pacific by 2025.
The zone groups Da Nang city and provinces of Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, and Binh Dinh, which are known for a variety of cultural heritages, historical relics sites and beautiful natural landscapes.
Covering an acreage of nearly 28,000 sq.km with a population of over 6.2 million (2006), the zone has developed its sea-borne economy in combination with industries and services, creating impetus for the socio-economic development in the whole central and central highlands region. By 2025, the central key economic zone will have an estimated population of 8.15 million, including 6 million of the working age.
The development master plan designs four satellite urban areas, namely Hue , Quy Nhon, Van Tuong and Nui Thanh, taking Da Nang city as heart, to attract foreign and domestic investment.
These urban areas are expected to boost the development of the sea-born economy, and form an international trade and economic corridor based on the National Highway No 1A, the national railway and a chain of sea ports.
The plan will develop industrial and export processing zones to take advantage of the local system.
A coastal tourist route will be built up, linking tours of mountainous landscapes, cultural heritages and ocean discoveries.
In addition, the local seaports will be connected with border gates to Laos, Myanmar and Thailand.
By 2025, the number of local urban centres in the zone is expected to double to 86.
Among these, Da Nang city will turn into the biggest service centre, while Hue city will become a big cultural-tourist centre, and Quy Nhon city will be an economic centre and a transportation hub linking to roads and seaports for the service of the Central Highlands.
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