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he district of Duc Trong lies in the heart of the province of Lam Dong, with a natural area of 90, 000 ha, a population of 136, 000 inhabitants. Its center, 30 km from the center of Dalat, is located at the junction of National Road [NR ]20 (Dalat-HCM City) and NR 27 (Dalat- Ban Me Thuot); NR 20 to Ninh Thuan -Nha Trang and the road section connecting NR 20 to NR 1 at Ninh Gia-Bac Binh (Binh Thuan). Besides the local Lien Khuong airport (which is part of the airport system of the South) is being planned to be expanded so that it can be connected with more other inland and international airports.

In recent years, thanks to its favorable geographical location, its agricultural and forestry strength, together with the stabilized population and the ensured social security, Duc Trong has continuously developed at a fairly high rate.

Regarding the economic aspect, its GDP, on the average, has increased 16.06% ; Its economic structure has strongly shifted towards industrialization- modernization; the industry and home-craft percentage has increased from 13% to 20 %, service from 25% to 27%; agriculture has decreased from 60% down to 53%.

To date, investment has always been centralized, its infrastructure expanded and upgraded. The transport system connecting the town to its adjacent areas operates efficiently even in the rainy season. So far, 12/13

communes and small town have been supplied with electricity  from the national electricity grid;the irrigation system of the district has met the need of its agricultural production. Many basic construction works have been making worthy contribution to the promotion of its production development as well as the success the implementation of the Hunger Eradication- Poverty Alleviation Program [HEAP]. As a result, the face of its rural economy has changed distinctively.

During the past few years, based on local economic strength in combination with full exploitation of domestic and foreign capital sources, Duc Trong mobilized an investment capital of roughly 100 billion VND from inside the district, 12. 86 million USD from foreign enterprises and joint ventures with foreign partners, 125 billion VND from Joint ventures with private enterprises. The total sizable capital has fully been used to develop the district's economy, help exploit its potentialities and strength. As a result, local workers have been given more jobs and their income has increased.

Concerning the culture 'society sphere, the district has gained significant achievement in education and training with a stabilized development in both quality and quantity. The school system has spread all over the district so as to satisfy the needs in schooling of the people in the district with higher quality. Also, the district has gained more success in its development of culture, sport, and information qualitatively and quantitatively. War invalids and social welfare policies have been well implemented. HEAP has brought about positive results, the medical service provided better medical care and treatment to the public. Besides, state security has always been attended to ensure social safety and political stability, which will create favorable conditions for the development of the local economy.

Summing up the lessons of experience to build a prosperous district towards industrialization- modernization, the resolution of the District Party has asserted general targets and directions till 2010 as following : stimulating the spirit of unity, self -reliance, and self- strengthening in the Party Unit and people in the district; firmly catching the views and guiding ideas of the Party Central Committee, the government as well as the Provincial Party Unit and, the authorities of Lam Dong, exploiting all potentialities and strength, promoting development towards the increase of industry -home craft and service, promoting industrialization of agriculture and the development of rural economy. Linking economic growth with advance and social equality; solving the problem of unemployment, implementing the HEAP; raising people's standards of culture and their cultural, spiritual life; consolidating state security, ensuring the political stabilization and social safety and order, building and consolidating clean organizations of the Party, Government, United Front and other organizations so as to create favorable conditions to step into the 21st century with the utmost targets of a powerful nation with rich people and an equal-democratic society

Particular targets till 2005 are: raising the district's GDP growth rate to 15-16% annually, GDP per capita to 1. 8 compared with the year of 2000, service to 32%, annual economic growth rate to 16%-18% ;actively

shifting the district's economic structure till 2005. By 2005,  agriculture-forestry will increase by 42%, industry-home craft 26%, service 32%; consolidating state enterprises, building and developing the economic forms of co-operation and joint venture so as to create favorable conditions for people of different economic sectors in the district to invest and exploit the potentialities so as to promote its production development. Mobilizing capital from all sources to invest in building its infrastructures including irrigation works, roads, schools, health units, power stations, information bureaus, etc.

To reach such targets, Duc Trong's authorities have set out certain particular missions and resolutions. Firstly, converting its agricultural production into agro-product processing in combination with intensive farming and establishing an industrial-material supplying zone. Promoting the diversion of its crop structure, establishing a zone of standard vegetables to supply the processing factories with materials ; calling for investment projects in form of joint venture or co-operation in building processing factories with proper technology to enhance its processed product value. Maintaining the existing coffee growing area, expanding the mulberry area and the tobacco growing area.

Regarding the sectors of construction, business, and tourism, Duc Trong will continue to invest in completing the Lien Nghia market. Besides, the district authorities will set plans and encourage investment projects in building and developing the urban quarters. Striving to speed its development towards the target: the center of commerce and service of the district will become the major center of the whole region.

Based on the resolution "Developing the tourist service and investing in the development of the tourist sector as a key economic sector of the province," the district authorities have asserted their missions in the period from 2001 to 2005 as following :Actively mobilizing capital from inside and outside the district, investing in building ecological and cultural tourist sites such as the Pongour, Gougah, Lien Khuong, Bao Dai waterfalls, the Nam Son lake, the Elephant Mountain Revolutionary Base (Nui Voi), the Dai Ninh lake...

Favorable geological conditions, suitable land for food crops and industrial crops, attraction to foreign investors, together with certain achievements attained over the past years are the strong potentialities of the district, which are to be exploited. Full exploitation of such potentialities will be an attractive chance for investors, and constitute a bright prospect for the promising development of the district.

LE DINH PHUOC

Chairman of  the People's Committe of Duc Trong

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