Vietnam has unveiled an ambitious plan to develop industries, especially small-scale ones, and handicraft in its seven northern provinces bordering China, to meet local demand and export to the neighbor country, local newspaper Vietnam News reported Friday.

 

Under the plan on developing industries in mountainous districts of the provinces of Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lang Son and Quang Ninh to 2010 recently approved by the Industry Ministry, Vietnam will focus on promoting mineral extraction, agro-forestry processing, and production of construction materials, fertilizers, chemicals and hydroelectricity stations.

 

The country will encourage every economic sector, especially state-owned one, to participate in developing the industries in the districts, home to abundant natural resources, including minerals, forests, rivers and streams, to facilitate foreign trade.

 

Top priority will be given to fields which involve in processing, producing goods for export and packaging materials, and packaging products for export to China. Lower priority will go to textile, rattan ware, wood carving, and furniture.

 

Specifically, Vietnam will center on producing rattan, bamboo products and processing agro-forestry items in Muong Nhe District in Dien Bien, building small hydroelectricity stations, exploiting and processing minerals, and producing construction materials, agro-forestry products, meat, animal feed and farm tools in the three districts of Muong Te, Sin Ho and Phong Tho in Lai Chau.

 

The country will also center on exploiting minerals, processing agro-forestry products, manufacturing items for export to China, and building small and medium hydroelectricity stations and fertilizer and chemical plants in Lao Cai, including its Lao Cai City, and the four districts of Bat Xat, Bac Ha, Bao Thang and Sa Pa.

 

Besides, the country will promote the small and medium mineral exploiting and processing industry, build small hydropower plants, and develop handicrafts in Ha Giang, and strengthen Quang Ninh's agro-forestry processing and seafood industries for export to China.

 

The two-way trade between China and Vietnam, which stood at US$8.2 billion in 2005, is expected to reach US$10 billion in 2006, according to the Chinese Commerce Ministry.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2006)