Dear Researchers, Policy Planners and Advisors, and Practitioners,

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The Mekong Delta (MD) is home to 17.3 million people, covering a natural land area of 40,816.4 km², which accounts for 12.32% of the country’s total land area. The MD has established itself as the nation’s leading center for the production and export of rice, seafood, and fruit, contributing to national food security and the export of agricultural products. However, the region’s average income per capita remains lower than the national average.

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Following the Planning Law, Resolution No. 120/NQ-CP dated November 17, 2017, and Decision No. 1163/QĐ-TTg dated July 31, 2020, a development orientation framework for the MD region has been established to serve as a basis for the regional planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision towards 2050. Concurrently, the planning tasks for 12 out of the 13 provinces and cities in the MD region have been approved, including Kien Giang. 

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An Giang is a region at the headwaters of the Mekong River flowing into Vietnam, with fertile land and abundant fresh water resources, favorable for agricultural production. However, over the past decade, the province’s agricultural economy has grown very slowly and is declining, while the province has not yet built a solid industrial foundation, tourism has not shaped its direction, and the potential for border economic development with Cambodia has not been exploited. The business force in the province is not strong; the budget revenue is limited, depending on unsustainable sources of income. Non-agricultural economic activities and new job opportunities are not vibrant. The province’s migration rate is among the highest in the country. In the current context, it is essential to direct strategic development for An Giang province to truly boost the provincial economy, aiming for rapid and sustainable development.

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Currently, An Giang province is implementing the planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision towards 2050 according to the Planning Law. One of the important tasks of provincial planning is to direct the development strategy framework; determine the perspectives, objectives, and vision of the province by 2050; select, arrange, and organize the space for economic, social, environmental activities, and infrastructure to best exploit the potentials and opportunities in the coming period.

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The University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), and Health & Agricultural Policy Research Institute (HAPRI), cordially invite researchers, experts in the field of development economics, local planning, policy makers, and advisors to submit their articles to the Conference.

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Some suggested topics (priority but not limited to):

• Propose vision scenarios and development goals for An Giang up to 2050.

• Choose which image of An Giang to present internationally.

• Identify unique or advantageous features that An Giang can develop sustainably.

• Analyze geographical characteristics to propose development scenarios, comparing with other regions in the world with similar locations and resources.

• Analyze the regional transportation system and that of An Giang. Assess the impact of national and regional transportation planning on An Giang.

• Analyze overall competitive capabilities, industry-level competitiveness, and the competitiveness of specific commodities (analyze both the present and the next 30 years).

• Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the business environment, the ability to attract and develop the private economy.

• Analyze household welfare in the development process (income, inequality, poverty, migration, healthcare, education).

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Important timelines:

• Submission deadline: July 7, 2021

• Review period: 5 days after the deadline

• Seminar date: To be announced later

• Seminar Location: to be announced later (depending on the COVID-19 situation)

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Formatting guidelines:

• Cover page should include:

  • Title

  • Author information: name, organization, address, email, phone number,

  • Article summary (up to 300 words) and a maximum of 6 keywords (if any).

• The article should be single-spaced, font size 12, Times New Roman font.

• The length of the article should be between 3000-5000 words (excluding references and appendices).

• Tables, figures, and graphs should be inserted as close to the cited position as possible. Titles should be centered for each table, and figure.

• References in APA style.

• Articles from national, regional, or provincial/city practitioners do not necessarily have to follow the above formatting guidelines.

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Author benefits:

• Accepted papers presented at the symposium will be supported with 7 million VND per paper.

• All local presentation expenses for authors will be sponsored by UEH-HAPRI.

• Excellent papers will be selected for publication in a special issue of the Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies (JABES, in Vietnamese).

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Please send articles to: hapri@ueh.edu.vn; subject: “Author’s Name-An Giang’s Master Plan”

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Contact information:

Health & Agricultural Policy Research Institute

10th Floor, 279 Nguyen Tri Phuong, Ward 5, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City (Phone: 028 3853 0867)

 

Contact Secretary:

Tran Thi Phu Duyen
Phone:0373 225 525

Email: duyenttp@ueh.edu.vn  

 

The organizing committee looks forward to receiving articles with practical and specific strategic proposals.

 

Professor Dr. Nguyen Trong Hoai
Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies (JABES)
University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City

Email: hoaianh@ueh.edu.vn

 

Dr. Vo Tat Thang
Deputy Head of the Department, Faculty of Economics, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City
Director, Health & Agricultural Policy Research Institute  (HAPR)

Email: thangvt@ueh.edu.vn

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More information about the project