NORTH CENTRAL REGION TARGETS MARINE HUB STATUS WITH 10.5% GROWTH GOAL

The Politburo’s Resolution 27-NQ/TW, dated August 28, 2026, targets 2030 for the region to be “dynamic, fast and sustainable”, a strong global and regional marine economic centre tied to large industrial and service hubs, coastal economic zones and modern coastal cities.

Growth base firming

After administrative restructuring, the region spans the provinces of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri and Hue city, with industrial centres, coastal economic zones, cities, ports, services, tourism and key transport links.

Leveraging its strengths in coastal tourism, seaport infrastructure, and marine economic potential, Nghe An is aiming to become a dynamic marine economic hub in the North Central Region (Photo: VNA)

Growth is firming. The region’s GRDP rose 8.37% in 2025 and contributed 6.47% to national growth. Drivers are increasingly complementary. Ha Tinh’s industry and construction sector grew 24.25% in the first half; Nghe An’s industrial production index rose 23.02% and exports hit 3.1 billion USD, up 58.4%.

Vung Ang 1 and Vung Ang 2 thermal power plants in Ha Tinh play a vital role in ensuring national energy security, contributing to state budget revenue, creating jobs, and driving economic growth (Photo: VNA)

Hue is leaning on services, tourism, culture, health and education while expanding higher-value industries and services. Quang Tri has room in border gate trade, logistics, industry and East-West Economic Corridor services. Thanh Hoa’s Nghi Son Economic Zone and Nghe An’s Southeast Economic Zone remain key industrial platforms.

The gains give the region a base for its next phase, but development levels, economic structures and connectivity still vary. Local advantages need to be harnessed within a more unified development space linking industrial, service, urban, port, economic zones and production areas.

That is also the thrust of the adjusted north central region master plan for 2021-2030, with vision to 2050, approved by the Prime Minister under the Decision 613/QD-TTg dated April 4, 2026.

Building on the planning, the Resolution 27-NQ/TW sharpens the push to reorganise the region’s development space around growth poles, economic corridors and marine economic centres.

Marine hub ambitions

The resolution sets a 2030 goal for the region to be “dynamic, fast-growing and sustainable”, a strong regional and international marine economic centre linked to large industrial and service hubs, coastal economic zones and a modern coastal urban system. The aim sits within a broader push for multi-tier, multi-polar development and stronger links among localities and sub-regions.

Targets to 2030: average GRDP growth of 10.5% a year, GRDP per capita of about 7,000 USD, industry and construction at 47.7%, services 36.8%, agro-forestry-fisheries 10.8%; processing and manufacturing at 30% of GRDP; digital economy 30% of GRDP, labour productivity up 8.5% a year, urbanisation at 47-48%, trained workers with degrees or certificates at 35-40%, multidimensional poverty down to 1-1.5%, universal health insurance coverage, and human development index at 0.8.

The targets imply a faster shift into industry, construction and services, with higher quality, added value and productivity. Processing and manufacturing remains a key driver, alongside high-technology, high-value industries.

The resolution maps out regional priorities, including oil refining and petrochemicals, metallurgy, mechanical engineering, autos and supporting industries, agro-forestry-fishery processing and renewable energy, plus renewable energy centres, liquefied natural gas, data centres and hi-tech industry.

The marine economy remains a key priority, focusing on the development of ports, coastal economic zones and industrial parks, with particular emphasis on coastal economic zones and logistics. Sea and island, ecological, cultural and historical tourism are to move up the value chain and add momentum to services.

Hue city is tapping into its potential for marine economic development (Photo: VNA)

Under that structure, Hue is to become a distinctive hub for culture, tourism, specialised health care, science - technology, and quality education. The Thanh Hoa-Nghe An-Ha Tinh coastal area is to become an industrial centre for the region and the country. Defining Hue’s role alongside northern and southern coastal industrial centres creates a clearer division of labour across the region’s economic spaces.

The resolution also eyes a gradual Cau Treo-Vung Ang economic corridor in Ha Tinh, linking Lao localities to ports in Ha Tinh and Quang Tri. That will deepen East-West links, widen trade and raise the role of port and logistics hubs.

Quang Tri is working on two key coastal road projects to drive economic development in the province and across the North Central Region (Photo: VNA)

Transport is the enabling condition. The resolution calls for completing strategic axes linking economic centres, coastal economic zones and international border gates. Priorities include expanding the eastern North-South expressway as planned, the coastal road, the Hanoi-Vientiane expressway section through Nghe An, the North-South high-speed railway, study of a Vientiane-Vung Ang railway, and an upgrade of Phu Bai Airport in Hue.

A completed North-South and East-West transport network will tighten links among industrial centres, ports, economic zones, cities and international trade hubs.

The resolution also pushes for a sustainable, multi-polar, climate-adaptive urban system and a coastal urban chain tied to industrial, service and logistics corridors. Hue is named the region’s central urban area and a national-level heritage and cultural city.

With the Party’s orientation and the State’s work on planning, infrastructure, mechanisms and policies, the North Central Region is expected to better leverage local strengths within a common linkage, adding momentum toward becoming a dynamic, sustainable region and a strong global and regional marine economic centre./.