Soc Trang efforts coming to fruition

Soc Trang efforts coming to fruition

Soc Trang has recorded many strong economic indicators in the first six months of the year, putting it on track to achieve its 8 per cent economic growth target for 2024.

"So far this year, the province has maintained a stable socioeconomic situation, with many indicators showing positive results. Budget revenues increased, the investment environment improved, and the PAPI ranked highest in the region. The fields of agriculture, industry, and trades and services registered strong growth. Social welfare was ensured, and the programme to eliminate makeshift and dilapidated housing was completed ahead of schedule." – Ho Thi Cam Dao Chairwoman, Soc Trang People’s Council

According to Soc Trang People’s Committee, the Mekong Delta province has achieved positive changes and outstanding results in its socioeconomic situation in the first six months of 2025. This is attributed to the synchronous implementation of socioeconomic development measures to respond flexibly and remove bottlenecks.

The province continues to maintain and develop its agricultural production, with on-year increases in the areas of rice cultivation, vegetable farming, short-term industrial crops, and fruit trees. Growth was also recorded in the total livestock and poultry herd, as well as the aquaculture area and output.

Rice output reached 1.31 million tonnes, of which speciality and high-quality rice accounted for 94.91 per cent. The total seafood output stood at 135,000 tonnes. The national target programme on new rural construction achieved outstanding results.

At present, 75 out of 80 communes in the locality meet new rural standards. Meanwhile, 290 products in the locality are certified as One Commune, One Product items, with 26 products winning 4-star standards and 264 securing 3-star standards.

Generating value

Soc Trang has channelled efforts to implement solutions to boost production and business activities at the beginning of 2025. As a result, industrial production, trade, and services maintained growth against the same period in 2024. The first half of 2025 saw the index of industrial production rise by 8.5 per cent, compared to 3.34 per cent a year earlier.

Many main industrial products registered high on-year growth, especially footwear surging 160 per cent, electricity output (windpower) soaring 103 per cent, and cement rising 300 per cent. The Xay Da B Industrial Cluster was inaugurated in early April, marking the province’s first industrial cluster with fully invested technical infrastructure.

In the first half of the year, total retail sales and consumption services revenue in Soc Trang rose 23.36 per cent on-year to $2.4 billion. Total export value is estimated to hit $870 million, of which seafood exports generated $490 million, rice exports amounted to $320 million, and garment exports earned $59 million.

Tourism has also seen marked improvement. In 2025 to the end of May, tourist arrivals to Soc Trang reached 1.91 million, up 10 per cent on-year. The number of overnight visitors rose to over 301,000, a 9 per cent increase. Total tourism revenue is estimated at $48.2 million, up 36 per cent on-year.

Business development has been a bright spot in the provincial economic landscape. The total number of businesses entering the market and the total registered capital have both increased. Specifically, there were 265 newly registered businesses – up 29.27 per cent on-year.

Total registered capital sat at $89.8 million, a 137.37 per cent rise from the same period last year. This reflects strong business and investor confidence in the local environment. Meanwhile, 58 businesses resumed operations during the period, an on-year increase of 20.83 per cent.

In terms of investment attraction, Soc Trang welcomed 42 investors exploring opportunities in the period, granting various investment policies and approving three new ventures.

State budget revenue also rose significantly. Total budget collection is estimated at $133.8 million in the first half – fulfilling 57.13 per cent of the annual plan and increasing 7.1 per cent on-year.

The People’s Committee has performed well in directing admin reforms. Soc Trang scored 45.19 points in the 2024 Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index, ranking 10th out of 61 localities and first in the Mekong Delta region – maintaining the top regional position for two consecutive years.

Determined to achieve regional GDP growth of at least 8 per cent in 2025, the Soc Trang People’s Committee in June 4 outlined key tasks and solutions to promote economic growth this year. Accordingly, specific responsibilities have been assigned to department leaders, in coordination with district, town, and city-level committees.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment is tasked with directing agricultural production. The target is to harvest the summer–autumn crop with an output of over 828,000 tonnes, bringing total rice output to over 2.1 million tonnes. The focus is on improving yields and quality of key crops such as purple onion, sugarcane, pomelo, longan, durian, star apple, and mango.

In aquaculture, the province aims to scale up super-intensive and high-tech shrimp farming in Tran De, Long Phu, Cu Lao Dung, and Vinh Chau town. The target is to raise total aquaculture output to over 343,000 tonnes, including 240,000 tonnes of brackish water shrimp.

In trade and services, the Department of Industry and Trade will support businesses in the seafood processing, garment, and footwear sectors by ensuring a stable supply of raw materials and labour, responding promptly to market fluctuations, and facilitating the expansion of export markets. The department will also help speed up the progress of new industrial ventures and manufacturing expansions to boost industry value.

It will support the developer of the Xay Da B Industrial Cluster in deploying secondary projects, with site clearance also expedited. Investor selection will be organised for the technical infrastructure of the Long Duc 1 and Long Duc industrial clusters.

Infrastructure implementation

Additionally, two windpower ventures are expected to be completed and put into commercial operation as scheduled. To facilitate this, the department will support investors in completing all investment and construction procedures. It will also effectively implement the 2025 Soc Trang trade promotion and e-commerce development programme.

For key infrastructure projects, the Department of Construction is assigned to coordinate with relevant units to accelerate development and resolve construction bottlenecks. These include the first phase of the Chau Doc–Can Tho–Soc Trang Expressway’s fourth component, Dai Ngai Bridge, the East–West economic development axis, and the upgrade of National Highway 91B through various localities.

Other key projects include ring roads 1 and 2 in Soc Trang city, Provincial Road 936 and its bridge in Vinh Chau town, Provincial Road 932B in Ke Sach district, Provincial Road 938, and a connecting section from Provincial Road 940 to National Highway No.61B. The province also aims to accelerate progress on Tran De Port – a key logistics gateway for the Mekong Delta – and will implement investment procedures for a road linking Dai Ngai 2 Bridge to National Highway No.60, connecting southeastern Soc Trang with Bac Lieu and Tra Vinh.

Finally, the Department of Finance has been tasked with improving the investment and business climate to enhance the Provincial Competitiveness Index. It will monitor licensed investors to expedite non-budget ventures, resolve difficulties for pending projects, and fast-track public investment. The goal is to achieve 100 per cent disbursement, following the directive to use such investment to lead, activate, and attract social resources.

VIR