HCMC – Many scientists and experts at a recent seminar on the development orientations and potential and the improvement of the investment environment in HCMC’s outlying district of Cu Chi have proposed developing the district into a city under the jurisdiction of HCMC.
Nguyen Quyet Thang, secretary of the Cu Chi Party Committee, said Cu Chi was a bridge between the southeastern and southwestern regions. It has borders with HCMC’s Hoc Mon District and Binh Duong, Tay Ninh and Long An provinces, Thanh Nien newspaper reported.
However, the district has yet to fully realize its potential. In the coming periods, the district needs more policies to attract investors.
At the seminar, the Cu Chi authorities also introduced nine projects covering nearly 6,000 hectares of land for investment attraction.
Pham Phuong Thao, former chairwoman of the HCMC People’s Council, said Cu Chi should be developed into a city instead of an urban district. If it is developed into a city, it could maintain and develop agricultural communes to attract tourists.
Sharing the view, Dr Bui Ngoc Hien from the HCMC Cadre Academy said Cu Chi met the requirements of a city. Meanwhile, the development of a suburban district into an urban district will need more time.
According to Dr Nguyen Anh Tuan, head of the general planning management under the HCMC Department of Planning and Architecture, Cu Chi had plans to develop the Tay Bac Urban Area into a modern eco-urban area with synchronous technical and social infrastructure.
Cu Chi will also develop the Tan Phu Trung, Tay Bac and Dong Nam industrial parks, an auto mechanical industrial park, agricultural production areas, hi-tech agricultural areas and garden residential areas.
Cu Chi must be developed into a green urban area. To reach the target, the connectivity of rural and urban areas should be tightened, existing trade villages should be stabilized and ecotourism should be developed at the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Ben Duoc Temple.
In the long term, Cu Chi must enhance the application of technologies in production and business to improve land use effectiveness.
In addition, an expressway from An Suong to Moc Bai and the Ring Road No. 3 should be accelerated to link Cu Chi and Hoc Mon with the east of HCMC and Dong Nai Province. Roads along the Dong Nai River to Cu Chi and Tay Ninh should be studied to shorten the travel time and develop ecotourism.
Experts also suggested HCMC issue policies for Cu Chi to attract large investors and talents and reform administrative procedures.
