The Ministry of Planning and Investment has planned to develop the north central and central coastal region into a gateway for Vietnamese goods destined for Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand. Such expected development is included in a government’s master plan on socio-economic development in the region until 2020, which was jointly announced by the ministry and the Khanh Hoa province People’s Committee in Nha Trang city on Friday. The plan will focus on upgrading central urban areas in the cities of Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa province), Hue (Thua Thien-Hue province), Vinh (Nghe An province), and Da Nang. In addition, priority will be given to investment in four areas in the region, including the central key economic area that comprises Da Nang city and the provinces of Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh. More attention will also be paid to improving roads, seaports, airports, irrigation works, the power system and infrastructure in the region, while focus will be placed on aquaculture, service and tourism development. Meanwhile, economic zones such as Dung Quat in Quang Ngai province, Lao Bao in Quang Tri province, and Chu Lai in Quang Nam province will be upgraded in line with economic restructuring in these localities.