Lao Cai told to boost cross-border trade
(VOV) -Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked the northern border province of Lao Cai to fully tap its huge potential, especially in tourism and cross-border trade in Sapa.
During his working visit to the province on September 20, the Government leader urged the province to hire foreign constancy firms to make zoning plans and explore Sapa’s great potential for sustainable development based on its advantages in climate, natural landscape, the environment and unique culture.
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He praised Lao Cai’s effort to maintain high annual economic growth (around 13.7%) in recent years, reach US$1.3 billion in cross-border trade and its achievements in the tourism industry. Lao Cao has gradually become a big industrial zone in the northern region, with its industrial value hitting nearly VND10 trillion, Dung noted.
However, the PM requested the locality to pay greater attention to poverty reduction with the current rate of 17% by fully utilizing potentiality in tourism and service sector.
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Many investors are keen on infrastructure, tourism and service projects in Lao Cai, opening new numerous opportunities for Sapa – an invaluable asset for tourism development.
He also requested local authorities and relevant agencies to speed up the implementation of several key projects, including a project to upgrade the Lao Cai airport, and a project to build a 26-km section of a highway connecting Lao Cai to Noi Bai to welcome about 3 million tourists to Sapa each year.