Breakthrough After 40 Years of National Renewal

.

“Looking back on 40 years of renewal, the country in general and Quảng Ngãi in particular have gone through a long and challenging journey, yet one that is deeply proud. The renewal process has helped the nation overcome economic and social crises, poverty, and backwardness. Today, the nation’s stature, potential, and international prestige have continuously improved, laying a solid foundation for entering a new stage of development,” emphasized former Provincial Party Secretary Phạm Đình Khối.

Before 1986, the economy was mired in crisis and production stagnated. In the decade following national reunification, Vietnam’s per capita income ranged from only USD 125–200 per year, placing it among the 20 poorest countries in the world. Inflation was high and people’s lives were extremely difficult.

One of the causes clearly identified at the 6th National Party Congress was serious mistakes in major policies, strategic leadership, and implementation, particularly subjectivism and voluntarism, outdated theoretical awareness, and weaknesses in applying laws of development during the transition to socialism. In such circumstances, the country had no choice but to embark on renewal.

     Dung Quất Oil Refinery

“The 6th Party Congress decided to comprehensively reform the economy, shifting from a centrally planned economy to a socialist-oriented market economy. This was a historic turning point, enabling Vietnam to transform from a poor and backward country into one of the most dynamic economies in the world,” added former Provincial Party Secretary Phạm Đình Khối.

The draft report reviewing theoretical and practical issues of 40 years of renewal toward socialism shows that over the past decade, the national economy has seen positive and comprehensive changes across many fields. Macroeconomic stability has been maintained, and inflation has been kept under control at low levels.

If during the early renewal period (1986–1990) average annual GDP growth was only 4.4%, then in the 2021–2025 period it reached 6.3%, placing Vietnam among the high-growth countries in the region and the world. By 2025, GDP is estimated to exceed USD 510 billion, ranking 32nd globally; GDP per capita is around USD 5,000, marking Vietnam’s entry into the upper-middle-income group. People’s living standards have improved fundamentally and comprehensively.

In 2025, total import–export turnover reached a record of approximately USD 900 billion, dozens of times higher than in 1990. Vietnam is a member of many new-generation free trade agreements such as CPTPP, EVFTA, and RCEP, and has become an attractive destination for multinational corporations. Industrial parks and export processing zones have developed strongly.

Throughout the 40-year renewal journey, not only has the nation witnessed profound transformation, but Quảng Ngãi has also made significant contributions to overall development, becoming a symbol of renewal and sustainable development in the Central Highlands–Central Coast region.

Before 1986, like many other provinces, the former provinces of Quảng Ngãi and Kon Tum faced countless challenges. The local economy was primarily agricultural, characterized by small-scale and fragmented production. After the 6th Party Congress, renewal policies began to exert widespread impacts nationwide, opening up new opportunities for development. Both provinces prior to their merger effectively leveraged their advantages to achieve strong transformations across multiple sectors.

Notably, the establishment of Dung Quất Economic Zone in 1996 was considered a growth nucleus—a major industrial center and a driving force for the province’s socio-economic development, as well as a key economic zone in the Central Highlands–Central Coast region, marked by breakthroughs in production and industrial development.

Dung Quất Economic Zone has played a leading role in driving development and creating large-scale industrial capacity. Industrial parks such as VSIP, Tịnh Phong, Quảng Phú, Phổ Phong, Hòa Bình, Sao Mai, and the Bờ Y International Border Gate Economic Zone have become solid pillars promoting economic growth, job creation, and budget revenue contributions across the province.

A key pillar is the Dung Quất Oil Refinery. Major enterprises such as Hòa Phát Dung Quất Steel JSC and VSIP have also made significant contributions to the province’s socio-economic development.

Products of Hòa Phát Dung Quất Steel JSC

A representative of Hòa Phát Dung Quất Steel JSC reported that the company has been approved to implement seven projects in Dung Quất Economic Zone, with total investment of about VND 185 trillion, providing stable jobs and income for more than 17,000 workers.

Alongside the company’s own efforts, strong support from provincial authorities—especially in creating a favorable business environment—has played an important role in its rapid development. Since 2017, the company has contributed more than VND 40 trillion to the state budget, becoming the largest budget contributor within the Hòa Phát Group.

In import–export activities, Dung Quất Economic Zone and the industrial parks of Quảng Ngãi continue to serve as key drivers. Cargo volume through ports has increased steadily year by year, reaching approximately 50 million tons in 2025.

Total import–export revenue from 2010 to 2025 reached nearly VND 86 trillion. Currently, 348 projects are operating in Dung Quất Economic Zone and the province’s industrial parks, creating jobs for over 81,000 workers, mostly local residents.

Established in 1984 amid national hardship, Kon Tum Rubber One-Member Co., Ltd. began with limited plantations and infrastructure, relying mainly on manual labor. From the outset, rubber cultivation was seen not only as an economic development goal but also as a means to provide stable livelihoods for people in the formerly disadvantaged Kon Tum province. 

Alongside the national renewal process, the company gradually reformed its management, expanded production scale, and developed concentrated raw material areas. Today, it manages over 9,300 hectares of rubber plantations, providing stable employment for nearly 1,300 workers and livelihoods for more than 3,500 households.

Processing plant of Kon Tum Rubber Co., Ltd.

After more than 40 years of development, the company’s operations have become increasingly stable, with average annual revenue of VND 500–600 billion and contributions of around VND 60 billion to the local budget, affirming its role as a key state-owned enterprise closely tied to provincial development.

Deputy General Director Phạm Văn Anh acknowledged that over four decades, the company has experienced economic ups and downs and fluctuations in domestic and global rubber markets. However, through persistence and proactive restructuring, it has improved production efficiency, invested in technology innovation, developed a value chain in rubber production, processing, and consumption, thereby increasing product value and promoting the development of the province’s processing industry.

Entering a new stage of development, in response to the demand for green and sustainable growth, the company is expanding beyond traditional rubber cultivation into deep processing, renewable energy, and industrial park investment—strategic steps that continue its more than 40-year journey alongside provincial economic development.

Thạch Bích Mineral Water Plant (Quảng Ngãi Sugar JSC) is another enterprise that endured the most difficult years of early renewal. Established in 1994, after 31 years it has grown from a company producing only 5.3 million liters per year with revenue of VND 12 billion in 1995 to an average output of 76 million liters per year and revenue exceeding VND 300 billion today—26 times higher. Average monthly income per worker has increased sixfold, from VND 1.3 million to VND 8 million in 2025.

Nguyễn Tấn Thọ, a technician at the plant, shared that over more than 40 years, he has clearly felt the country’s profound transformation. Party and State policies have created strong momentum for business development and improved workers’ living standards. Each step of the company’s growth is closely linked to the development of the homeland and the nation.

Workers at Thạch Bích Mineral Water Plant (Quảng Ngãi Sugar JSC).

The draft Political Report to the 14th National Party Congress sets the goal that by 2030, Vietnam will become a developing country with modern industry and upper-middle income, and by 2045 will become a high-income developed nation.

This aspiration is entirely achievable, supported by positive transformations in localities, including the contributions of Quảng Ngãi.

In 2025, Quảng Ngãi achieved GRDP growth of 10.02%, exceeding targets and ranking among the six provinces nationwide with double-digit growth. State budget revenue exceeded VND 35 trillion, marking the fifth consecutive year of exceeding targets and creating important fiscal space for future development investment.

Labor productivity has improved markedly. GRDP per capita in 2025 exceeded VND 100 million, up 9.8% from 2024 and more than 66% compared to 2020, significantly improving people’s living standards.

Contributing to national development, Quảng Ngãi is acting decisively and innovatively to meet key targets from 2026 onward, aiming for 10% GRDP growth compared to 2025 and building a solid foundation for the 2026–2030 period, with the goal of becoming a fairly developed province and an important growth pole in the Central Highlands–Central Coast region by 2030.

To achieve these goals, the province is committed to effectively implementing the four key resolutions and specialized resolutions of the Politburo, while ensuring consistent implementation of central and provincial socio-economic development tasks and solutions.

Quảng Ngãi streets are filled with a festive atmosphere in celebration of the 14th National Party Congress.

At the same time, Quảng Ngãi is focusing on the effective implementation of the two-tier local government model, enhancing competitiveness and added value, prioritizing key sectors such as processing industries, high-tech agriculture, high-quality tourism and services, promoting regional linkages, value chains, innovation, and improving labor productivity to ensure sustainable growth.

“With deep confidence in the Party’s leadership and the consensus of the political system, business community, and people, Quảng Ngãi is determined to uphold its traditions of solidarity, resilience, and creativity, and successfully implement the goals set out in the Resolution of the 1st Provincial Party Congress for the 2025–2030 term,” emphasized Nguyễn Hoàng Giang, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee.

The achievements of 40 years of renewal represent a historic miracle, creating a strong foundation for Vietnam to confidently enter a new era of national development toward peace, independence, democracy, prosperity, civilization, happiness, and steady progress toward socialism.

On the eve of the 14th National Party Congress, Quảng Ngãi is taking on a new appearance, with vibrant scenery and a joyful atmosphere. Streets and public spaces are adorned with flags and flowers, creating a colorful environment that reflects people’s excitement and confidence ahead of this important national event.

That joy affirms the strong and well-directed development of Quảng Ngãi throughout the renewal process, laying the foundation for further advancement in the new era.

Thao Giang