TUY PHONG DISTRIC

Tuy phong district has struggled against harsh climatic conditions to become one of the key economic centers of Binh Thuan province since the district's establishment 20 years ago. The people of Tuy Phong have managed to turn their dry, infertile land into green vineyards and they have cashed in on the district's water territory, which is rich in seafood.

The Binh Thuan People's Committee's decision to amend the overall economic development strategy for Tuy Phong district in the 2001 - 10 period has been warmly welcomed by local residents.

Since the decision took effect, living standards among local people have improved greatly The district has record- ed an average annual GDP growth rate of 10.75%, in which the fisheries sector has grown by 14.05%, the industrial and construction sector by 14.7% and the service sector by 13.35%. The district's annual food output has also increased. The rate of poor households in the district has been reduced to less than 1 5%.

In spite of prolonged drought, the district has raised its annual food output to 9,835 tons. It has grown 29.8 hectares of vineyards and 98.47 hectares of forests. Tuy Phong now has 17,883 heads of cattle, 11,879 pigs, 4,000 goats, 1,500 sheep, and 178,300 heads of poultry. By 2010, the district targets to reduce the proportion of industrial production in its economy to 37.4% and raise the proportion of industrial production to 32.6% and trade and services to 30%.

All of the district's 11 communes have access to the national power grid, with 95% of households having access to electricity. It has built roads to all communes to facilitate traffic and transport. The rate of school-aged children going to school stands at 99.4%. All of its districts have medical centers and doctors, improving local people's health, particularly those in mountainous and remote areas. The cultural life of the people in the district has also been improved.

The residents of Tuy Phong pay great attention to education. In 1996, the district had 37 schools with 540 class- rooms and 19,300 students. The respective figures rose to 45, 643, and 21,266 in 2001. All districts have successfully applied compulsory primary education. In the period between 1996 and 2000, the district acknowledged 23 villages and wards as being "cultural villages" or "cultural wards".

Tuy Phong has a coastline stretching 50 km that contains a large reserve of seafood. With a wide range of species, Tuy Phong's water territory is one of the largest fishing grounds in Binh Thuan province and in the country as a whole. Along the coastline there are many bays and beaches, and two estuaries suitable for building fishing ports. The coastline also offers great opportunities for developing aquaculture, particularly prawn raising and producing breeding prawns. Aquaculture plays an important role in Tuy Phong district's economy, accounting for 32% of local people's incomes. As at the end of 2000, the district had 105 fishing vessels with a total capacity of 34,410 CV. Fishing vessels of 40 CV accounted for 40% of the fishing fleet. One hundred percent of vessels of 20CV or more have now been equipped with two-way radios and 33% are equipped with fish-monitoring equipment. The district reported total seafood output of 26,940 tons in 1995 and 30,010 tons in 2000. With its long coastline and many bays, the district has major potential for the raising of prawns. Prawn raising productivity has been increased from 1- 1.5 tons per hectare to 4 tons or even 5-7 tons per hectare. The district had 100 ha of prawn raising area and a total prawn output of 290 tons in 2000. The respective figures were 315 hectares and 950 tons in 2001. Tuy Phong produced 300 million prawn larvae in 1999. At the end of 2002, the district had 122 prawn hatcheries capable of producing 1.5 billion larvae. In addition to domestic enterprises, foreign companies, including those from Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Australia, and Japan, have also been licensed to invest in raising prawns in the district.

Tuy Phong targets to have 900 fishing vessels with a combined capacity of 45,000 CV by 2010.  Fishing vessels of 90 CV or more will account for 13.3% of the fleet and vessels of between 45 CV and 90 CV will account for 55.5%.

The district has determined to develop seafood processing into one of its key industries in the 2001 - 10 period. It will upgrade the Chi Cong Seafood Processing Plant, build a fish powder 1 plant with a designed capacity of 2,000 ' tons per annum, a freezing plant with a capacity of 350 tons per annum, and a cuttlefish processing plant with an annual capacity of 200 tons. Seafood processing enterprises in the district will be moved and located in the Phan Ri - Chi Cong Estuary Industrial Park.

Tuy Phong will expand the Phu Lac Industrial Park in Phu Lac commune from the current 50 hectares to 100 hectares to house enterprises involved in light industry, building material production, farm produce processing and engineering.

Tuy Phong also has many natural minerals. It has a white sand mine with an estimated reserve of 15 million tons, a clay mine of some 5 million tons, and a granite quarry. The district has three mineral water sources, including Vinh Hao, Dai Hoa and Chau Cat, with a combined capacity of between 280 and 300 million liters per annum. These mineral water sources, which have water of high quality, have been exploited since 1863. Vinh Hao mineral water has been consumed throughout Vietnam. Mineral water springs in Tuy Phong also provide a good environment for raising Spirunila alga, which has a high level of vitamins.

The district will form the Lien Huong - Vinh Hao Industrial Park, which will house enterprises involved in the production of minerals, salt, alga, wine, and building materials.

Tuy Phong will upgrade and develop the infrastructure of the Lien Huong - Phan Ri area into an urban area. By 2010, the urban area of Tuy Phong district will be between 500 and 600 hectares, including 322.29 hectares of residential land. Lien Huong and Phan Ri will be upgraded into fourth-grade towns in the 2006 - 10 period. Lien Huong Town will be expanded towards  National  Highway la and Phan Ri Town will be  expanded towards Hoa Minh and Chi Cong communes.

Located 1 on the top of the Co Thach Mountain in the district is the Co Thach Tu Temple, built in the early 19th century. The temple, which is of a unique design, is in the form of a system of caves, with each cave being a segment of the temple as a whole. The Canh Son Coastal Stone Reef in Chi Cong commune is also an attractive tourist site.

The telephone network has expanded to 10 out of the 11 communes in Tuy Phong, with the exception being the mountainous commune of Phan Dung. Banking and financial services have also been provided throughout the district. The transportation service has been improved. The number of transport means in 2000 is 94% higher than that of 1995, and meets demand for cargo and passenger transport in the district.

Tuy Phong is speeding up the development of its tourism sector, making it one of the key industries in the district. Tourism is expected to make up 7.5% of the district's GDP in 2005 and 10% in 2010. It hopes to attract between 1,500 and 2,000 international visitors and between 110,000 and 150,000 domestic visitors each year.

However, most of the potential in Tuy Phong has not yet been tapped due to many obstacles. The district is far from large urban centers and often faces fierce competition in attracting investment. Its economy has grown, but at a slow pace. Markets for its products are not stable and the skills of its workforce are still low. The infrastructure in Tuy Phong remains weak.

Tuy Phong is actively seeking to raise its budget revenues, calling for donations from international organizations and for foreign investment, and encouraging all economic sectors in the district to invest in the local economy. /.

THU THUY