WB: Regional development plans must benefit all

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam must implement comprehensive regional development plans in order to support the regions’ competitive advantages and make the best use of their natural resources, said an official from the World Bank (WB).

WB’s Acting Director in Vietnam Martin Rama at the ceremony to announce the 2009 World Development Report in Hanoi, November 20, 2008

Speaking at a ceremony to announce the 2009 World Development Report in Hanoi on November 20, WB’s Acting Director in Vietnam Martin Rama praised Vietnam ’s recent urban planning work, saying that the process of globalisation has highlighted the important role played by dynamic economic centres, including Ho Chi Minh City , Hanoi and Da Nang .

He also recommended that Vietnam ’s development plans must support the active nature of these cities while ensuring economic benefits for the nation’s people.

Commenting on the 2009 World Development Report entitled “Reshaping the Economic Geography”, Martin said it is a comprehensive report that helps countries’ policymakers realise world development through reshaping the frameworks of policies regarding urbanisation, territorial development and regional integration.

The report states that the most effective and long-term development policies are those that encourage geographical and economic convergence, both nationally and internationally.

The report also disagrees with a supposition that economic activities must cover all geographic locations to bring benefits to the poor as it states that the spreading of economic activities may result in a reduction in economic growth and lessen contributions to poverty reduction.

Therefore, the report suggests that governments should encourage economic integration, focusing on the mobilisation of people, goods and ideas from one place to another, so as to attain rapid growth and to bring benefits to people from all walks of life.

(Source: VNA)

Update from: http://english.vietnamnet.vn//biz/2008/11/814668/