The Forum: Unity for the central area economic development was held on April 25 at the Beach resort - Hoi An tourist area (Quang Nam province) by Tuoi Tre Newspaper and Hoa Nhan PR Media Company (Ho Chi Minh city), with the sponsorship of Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

About 400 delegates, consisting of leaders of central and central highland provinces, economic experts, scientists and reporters attended the forum. Binh Dinh delegation included Mr Vu Hoang Ha – Member of Central Committee of the Vietnamese Communist Party, Chairman of Binh Dinh Province People's Committee, leaders of Department of Planning and Investment, Department of Tourism and Nhon Hoi Economic Zone Administration.

The delegates delivered nearly 40 speeches focusing on the evaluation of the potential, sea line advantages, seaports, economic exploitation of forest resources, mineral, tourism, ect in central provinces. Many delegates believed that the central provinces are fully potential, but hasn’t been awakened. Besides, the provinces developed seperately and did not get the common voice for the whole area economic development in the integrated period. Many delegates raised question of whether there should be a "general-director" for the socio-economic development of the central provinces? Should central ports be developed? Or how to link the development of central provinces? In the speech, Mr.Vu Hoang Ha said: "We suggest the Prime Minister, the Ministries and agencies, especially Ministry of Planning and Investment create conditions for provincial authorities to orient and promote their economic strength, create a link on the basic of mutual development, and avoid the extensive and overlapped investment, accidentally preventing the progress of each other".

• Reported by Ngoc Dien

• Translated by Ngoc Tu