Island tipped to become fisheries logistics HQ

Co To island in northern Quang Ninh province looks set to become a fisheries logistics hub for the entire Tonkin gulf.

Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, a Politburo member and Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly, suggested the idea at a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the island district on March 22.

She noted that Co To needs to pursue its renovation to improve residents’ living conditions, promote local sustainable economic development and maintain national defence and security.

Co To district includes more than 40 islands with a total area of 4,600 hectares. About 150km offshore from Quang Ninh’s tourism city of Ha Long, Co To has a population of over 5,000.

Over the past 20 years since its establishment, the island district has seen rapid socio-economic development and maintained defence-security, stated Nguyen Duc Thanh, Secretary of the district Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Committee.

Co To has obtained economic growth of between 12 and 15 percent a year. It reached a per-capital income of USD1,200  in 2013 against USD900 in 2010 and USD400 in 2000.

Fisheries have become its economic spearhead, with an annual output of 10,000-15,000 tonnes of seafood while services and tourism make up a major proportion of its economic structure. The island received nearly 60,000 visitors last year.

In addition, Co To has improved transport infrastructure, built wharves and ship shelters, and constructed reservoirs to ensure clean water for 95 percent of the island’s population.

At the end of last year, Co To fulfilled the national new rural building programme, escaped from poverty and was linked up to the national power grid.

To mark its 20 th anniversary, Co To was honoured with the Labour Order, first class.

Source: cpv.org.vn