The adjustment aims to reflect changes in administrative boundaries, incorporate new development policies from the central government and respond to the province’s socio-economic development needs in the coming years.
According to the decision, the revised planning will cover the entire natural area of Gia Lai, which spans more than 21,576 square kilometres and has a population of around 3.58 million. Following administrative reorganization, the province will have 135 commune-level units, including 110 communes and 25 wards.
Gia Lai borders Quảng Ngãi to the north, Đắk Lắk to the south, Cambodia to the west and the East Sea to the east.
Provincial authorities said the revision is necessary because several aspects of earlier planning for Gia Lai and Bình Định provinces have become outdated and are no longer suited to the current development context or to national and regional plans that are being revised.
The restructuring of administrative units and the expansion of development space have also created the need for a comprehensive review and update of the planning framework to ensure consistency and coordination.
The revised plan aims to redefine Gia Lai’s role within the region and the country while establishing a new development vision that maximizes the province’s potential and advantages.
Under the new orientation, Gia Lai will prioritize growth in processing and manufacturing industries, renewable energy, high-tech agriculture, services and tourism, as well as emerging sectors such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence and the semiconductor industry. The goal is to develop Gia Lai into a relatively advanced province and a key economic hub in the Central Highlands.
The planning revision will focus on evaluating natural conditions and the current socio-economic landscape, building development scenarios and reorganizing socio-economic space. It will also outline urban and rural development strategies, infrastructure systems, land use planning, environmental protection and climate change adaptation, while identifying resources needed for implementation.
Authorities also plan to strengthen economic corridors, particularly the Quy Nhơn, An Khê-Pleiku axis, the East-West economic corridor and the North-South route along National Highway 1A.
At the same time, the province aims to enhance intra-provincial and inter-regional connectivity and promote balanced development among urban areas, rural communities and disadvantaged regions.
The adjustment of Gia Lai’s provincial planning for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision to 2050, is scheduled to be carried out during 2026–2027. The Department of Finance has been assigned to lead the process in coordination with relevant departments, sectors and local authorities to ensure the revision meets legal requirements and is completed on schedule.