Announcing the master plan for sustainable extraction and use of coastal resources for the 2021 – 2030 period, orientation toward 2050: A solid foundation to advance to the sea

Attending the conference were Mr. Do Duc Duy, member of the Party Central Committee, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment; representatives of central ministries, departments and branches; leaders of 28 coastal provinces and cities and experts from international organizations in Viet Nam.

Speaking at the opening of the Conference, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Do Duc Duy said that in 2018, the Party Central Committee issued Resolution No. 36 on the Strategy for sustainable development of Viet Nam's marine economy to 2030, with a vision to 2045; on October 7, 2024, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 1117 approving the master plan for sustainable extraction and use of coastal resources for the 2021 – 2030 period, orientation toward 2050.

Speaking at the conference, Ms. Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Resident Representative in Viet Nam, said that the master plan for sustainable extraction and use of coastal resources is an important milestone towards effective integrated coastal management and ensuring sustainable exploitation and use of coastal natural resources. UNDP is honored to cooperate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and VASI in the process of developing this plan.

In the coming time, UNDP recommends 3 goals to implement the Plan including: Announcing the Plan is the time for Viet Nam to promote appropriate wind power development, including offshore and onshore, towards the commitment to achieve net zero emissions;

Governance, coordination, capacity building, clarifying the plans and responsibilities of the 28 coastal provincial governments in implementing this Master Plan; thirdly, a solid foundation for promoting Viet Nam’s blue economy as well as providing nature-based solutions. UNDP is committed to accompanying Viet Nam in realizing common goals.

In addition to the important significance of announcing the master plan for sustainable extraction and use of coastal resources, the Conference also summarized the Law on Marine and Island Resources and Environment in 2015. 

Minister Do Duc Duy believes that the amendment and supplementation of the Law on Marine and Island Resources and Environment to perfect the policy institutions, while focusing on synchronously implementing strategies and plans on the sea will continue to: Create a new breakthrough in the comprehensive management of marine and island resources and environment; Improve the effectiveness and efficiency of management of exploitation and rational use of marine resources, environmental protection, biodiversity conservation and marine ecosystems; Implement sustainable development of the marine economy in combination with strengthening potential, ensuring national defense and security, serving the cause of industrialization, modernization, building and protecting the Fatherland.

Delegates also contributed many ideas to the development of the plan for implementing the planning; proposed amendments and supplements to the Law on Marine and Island Resources and Environment; Delegates also proposed solutions to remove difficulties and obstacles in implementing the current function of integrated management of seas and islands in localities.

Concluding the Conference, Minister Do Duc Duy said that, absorbing the comments and discussions at the Conference, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will synthesize and promptly complete and submit for promulgation the Plan for implementing the Master Plan for sustainable exploitation and use of coastal resources, in order to: Specify and identify key tasks, solutions, programs, and priority projects for the period up to 2030; Assign responsibilities to agencies, localities and implementation roadmap to ensure the achievement of the goals of the Plan.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment also requested ministries, branches, central agencies and localities to continue promoting propaganda and dissemination activities and focus on implementing the Plan; to proactively review, update and supplement relevant contents in the Provincial Plan to ensure consistency and synchronization in state management at the local level; to develop, promulgate and prioritize resources for tasks and projects to effectively implement the Master Plan for sustainable exploitation and use of coastal resources.

Through the Conference, Minister Do Duc Duy respectfully requested ministries, branches, central and local agencies, experts and scientists to continue to participate in proposing, contributing opinions and closely coordinating with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to develop and submit to competent authorities to amend and supplement the Law on Marine and Island Resources and Environment in a synchronous and unified manner with the legal system, publicly, transparently, easily accessible and highly feasible; to create a foundation and legal framework to promote new growth drivers, rapid and sustainable development of the marine economy; to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of comprehensive management of marine resources and environment; to contribute to soon making Viet Nam a strong maritime nation, rich from the sea.