(VOVworld) – What does Vietnam need to do to achieve a sustainable marine economy? This topic was high on the agenda of the Vietnam Marine Trademarks Forum as part of the Vietnam Sea and Island Week 2013 in Ha Tinh province early this month. 

Vietnam has a 3,260 km coastline, more than 1 million square km of special economic zone and more than 3,000 islands, including Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos.  Its coastline faces three directions: East, South and Southwest, making it convenient for international navigation. The Vietnamese government has paid special attention to developing its marine economy while safeguarding national sovereignty. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh told a ceremony during the Vietnam Sea and Island Week:  “Vietnam’s sea is rich in natural resources which have contributed a great deal to national economic development. The economy of sea and coastal areas accounts for 48% of the national GDP and sea economy makes up 22%. Major marine sectors such as oil and gas, navigation, aquaculture, sea tourism have grown rapidly. Sea resources have been effectively utilized for national construction and people’s livelihood”.

The 4^th plenum of the 10^th Party Central Committee adopted a resolution on Vietnam’s marine strategy until 2020, aiming to develop Vietnam into a marine-strong country. The strategy outlines the close connection between socio-economic development, national defense, security and environmental protection as well as incentives to attract investment. Coastal economic hubs will be built to provide momentum for national development. Marine economy is set to contribute between 53% and 55% of the GDP and between 55% and 60% of the nation’s total export turnover. To achieve these goals, Vietnam is prioritizing exploration and refining oil, marine transportation, ship building and tourism. Vietnam is also making strenuous efforts to respond to climate change, sea level rise and improving fishing activities. Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Minh Quang urges for more drastic measures:  “We need to harmonize socio-economic development and environmental protection to achieve sustainability. Policies and laws need to be improved for better management of sea and island resources. The sea and island management apparatus should be strengthened from central to local level. High-quality human resources should be prioritized. Internal resources are fully tapped while calling for international support to make the management of sea and islands more effective”.

The Prime Minister recently approved the list of 5 coastal economic zones to be prioritised for development. They include the Chu Lai-Dung Quat, Dinh Vu, Nghi Son, Vung Ang, and Phu Quoc-Nam An Thoi. The growth of these economic zones will help boost Vietnam’s marine economy.