Gia Lai is leveraging its rich natural resources and strong wind and solar potential to position itself as a renewable energy hub in the Central and Central Highlands regions.
In an interview with Gia Lai Newspaper and Radio & Television, Nguyễn Hữu Quế, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, discussed the province’s priorities for sustainable energy development, environmental protection, and investment attraction.
▪How do you assess the potential and role of renewable energy in Gia Lai’s socio-economic development?
Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Nguyễn Hữu Quế. Photo: Provided by the interviewee
- Gia Lai, with more than 21,576 km² of land and a 134-km coastline, holds major advantages in geography, climate, and natural resources. These conditions support a wide range of renewable energy sources, including onshore and offshore wind, solar, hydropower, biomass, waste-to-energy, and geothermal energy.
We are gradually unlocking this potential with the goal of becoming a leading renewable energy center and a driving force for green growth in the region. Clean energy development enables us to restructure the economy, urban areas, and industry toward sustainability and long-term efficiency. It also supports the national shift to a green and circular economy, tied to digital transformation and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
According to the National Power Development Plan for 2021–2030, with a vision to 2050 (Power Plan VIII), renewable energy capacity in Gia Lai is expected to reach about 9,657 MW by 2035, with an additional pipeline of more than 23,000 MW in potential projects.
We currently have 85 renewable energy projects in commercial operation, totaling 4,179 MW. These projects play a significant role in economic growth, grid development, and job creation for thousands of local workers. They establish the foundation for Gia Lai’s aspiration to achieve double-digit economic growth in the 2026–2030 period.
Ia Pết Wind Power Plant (Ia Băng commune). Photo: Hà Duy
▪What measures does the province prioritize to ensure renewable energy development aligns with environmental protection and local livelihoods?
- Our principle is clear: renewable energy must harmonize economic, environmental, and social benefits. We require strict oversight of technology and equipment, banning outdated or energy-intensive systems that could harm the environment.
Authorities strengthen supervision of investor commitments, environmental safeguards, project capacity, and energy efficiency. We prioritize projects located on arid land, degraded land, low-yield agricultural areas, or inefficient production forests. No new projects are permitted in special-use or protective forests.
Projects must minimize resettlement and relocation, and investors are encouraged to hire local workers. We also mobilize resources to support the energy transition by balancing the interests of the State, investors, and local communities.
The province promotes international cooperation in climate response, technology transfer, and green innovation. We invest heavily in science, technology, and digital transformation, while training high-quality human resources for the renewable energy sector. Strengthening the link between research institutes, universities, and enterprises remains a core strategy for sustainable development.
Krông Pa Solar Power Plant with a capacity of 49 MW. Photo: Provided by the unit
▪What are the province’s priority orientations and key policies to attract renewable energy investment in the coming period?
- Our vision is to integrate clean energy with green industry, high-tech agriculture, logistics, and digital transformation. This supports the national circular economy action plan through 2035.
Based on the Resolution of the First Provincial Party Congress, we have outlined five investment priorities:
First, integrate renewable energy with circular-economy sectors, focusing on green industry, high-tech agriculture, modern logistics, and digital transformation to build sustainable value chains.
Second, develop carbon-neutral and eco-industrial parks, smart industrial zones, eco-residential areas, and smart grids. These will help establish Gia Lai as a regional center for green energy and ecological urban development.
Third, ensure a transparent, predictable investment environment by publicly disclosing planning documents and project lists, encouraging private sector participation.
Fourth, selectively attract investors in industries powered by green electricity—such as agricultural processing with near-zero carbon emissions, new materials, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and other high-tech sectors. We also prioritize the adoption of modern, environmentally friendly technology.
Fifth, build a comprehensive service and maintenance supply chain for the renewable energy sector, and establish a provincial Renewable Energy Human Resource Training and Development Center to create high-skill technical jobs and improve income levels.
To realize these goals, Gia Lai continues to propose mechanisms enabling private investment in transmission grids, adjustments to renewable energy capacity based on provincial potential, and expanded local authority in project management.
At the same time, we will implement policies to attract high-tech, eco-friendly investment aligned with circular-economy and green-growth models, while closely supporting businesses to ensure project progress and socio-economic development.
Banks in Gia Lai are rolling out large-scale credit packages and cutting lending rates by up to 2 percentage points a year as they seek to improve access to capital for businesses and households.
Gia Lai is stepping up enforcement against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, tightening vessel controls, electronic monitoring and seafood traceability as authorities seek to have the “yellow card” warning lifted in 2026, towards a more transparent and sustainable fisheries sector.
Hoang Anh Gia Lai Joint Stock Company broke ground on the VND 400 billion (about $15.3 million) Mang Yang No. 2 Industrial Cluster in Hra commune on August 12, a 74.5-hectare project expected to create stable jobs for more than 4,500 workers.
Gia Lai is planning a major expansion and upgrade of irrigation infrastructure in its western region, where only 8.94% of agricultural land currently has access to proactive irrigation and the annual water shortfall exceeds 1.234 billion cubic metres.
Gia Lai province is stepping up efforts to accelerate public investment disbursement after spending more than VND 9.322 trillion by the end of July 2026, as authorities seek to address delays affecting major projects and hold agencies accountable for meeting spending targets.
Industrial promotion programs are accelerating technology upgrades among rural businesses, cooperatives and production facilities, helping them improve product quality, strengthen brands and increase the value of locally made goods.
Gia Lai has sharply reduced administrative processing times for businesses, cutting company registration to a matter of hours and halving the time required for land allocation and leasing, as authorities seek to lower costs, accelerate investment projects and strengthen private sector growth.
The construction of Runway No. 2 and associated airfield facilities at Phu Cat Airport has entered its final stage, with contractors working around the clock to complete the project on schedule while maintaining stringent quality standards ahead of commissioning.
Gia Lai province is restructuring its agricultural sector by replacing fragmented local branding with regional-scale agricultural brands linked to specialized production areas and integrated value chains, aiming to improve competitiveness, attract investment and expand export opportunities.
Gia Lai authorities have ordered faster construction and site clearance across several major transport projects, setting firm deadlines for an expressway, a new airport runway and a coastal road as the province seeks to strengthen regional connectivity and support economic development.
Gia Lai is stepping up the use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies to promote destinations, preserve cultural heritage and improve visitor experiences, as authorities seek to strengthen the competitiveness of the local tourism industry.
Authorities in Gia Lai province are intensifying oversight of durian production as the region enters its peak harvest season, aiming to ensure products meet increasingly stringent export requirements on traceability, food safety and quality.
Gia Lai province's economy expanded 8.21% in the first six months of 2026 from a year earlier, with industry, construction and services driving growth despite ongoing economic challenges, provincial officials said on Tuesday.
Gia Lai has reported strong progress in implementing its private economic development strategy, with a sharp increase in new business registrations and investment projects during the first half of 2026.
Construction of a key coastal road linking National Highway 1D and the new National Highway 19 is gathering pace after overcoming geological, material and construction challenges, with authorities targeting completion and operation by the end of 2026.
Gia Lai Province has unveiled a new strategy to expand its international communications efforts, aiming to strengthen its global profile through professional, modern and internationally aligned media outreach while promoting investment, tourism and international cooperation.
Gia Lai authorities have approved the investment policy and selected the investor for the Plei Thơ Ga 2 Floating Solar Power Plant, a 20 MW renewable energy project that will incorporate a battery energy storage system at Plei Thơ Ga Lake in Chư Pưh commune.
Gia Lai province has expanded low-emission rice cultivation to nearly 1,700 hectares, exceeding its 2026 target and strengthening its preparations to participate in domestic and international carbon credit markets through reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Authorities and Youth Union organizations in Gia Lai are stepping up efforts to support ethnic minority in starting businesses and developing sustainable livelihoods, helping young people access trainin and preferential loans to improve incomes and contribute to local economic growth.
Decree No. 180/2026/NĐ-CP on forest carbon sequestration and storage services is being viewed as a major milestone for the development of Vietnam’s forest carbon market.
The rapid growth of cross-border e-commerce is opening new opportunities for businesses in Gia Lai to bring local products directly to international consumers, helping them adopt modern export models and deepen integration into global value chains.
From 2024 to 2026, the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance has recognized Thuong Giang Agricultural Cooperative in Binh Khe Commune and Binh De Construction Stone Production Cooperative in North Hoai Nhon Ward as “Cooperative Stars.”
Gia Lai Province has issued a plan to implement memoranda of understanding with the northeastern Cambodian provinces of Preah Vihear, Stung Treng and Ratanakiri in 2026, outlining cooperation activities across multiple sectors as part of the 2026–2030 partnership framework.
The province is intensifying efforts to achieve its 2026 Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) growth target of 10.2%, with local authorities accelerating investment projects, expanding production and strengthening key economic sectors during the first five months of the year.
