Administrative reform to be focused to lure investments next year

The meeting focused on discussing reports on the provincial situation in the past 9 months of the year 2007, reports on the provincial socio-economic plans for the third quarter 2007 and the first 9 months of the year, reports on the provincial defense area’s maneuvers, and some personnel issues.

In this period, the efforts of the provincial people and authorities have resulted in many positive changes in most areas. The high economic growth has been maintained and the budget spending for development has increased in comparison with the same period last year. The provincial revenue was 535 billion VND, completing 70% of the set yearly plan; the expenditure was 1,210 billion VND, completing 61.5% of the set yearly plan.

As to industry, the province has maintained a high growth rate over the past nine months. The revenue was estimated 5,103 billion VND, hitting to 72.4% of the set yearly plan, 23% more than the same period last year. Some industries have reached special high growth rate (mining industry: 20%, electricity and water industries: 56%, etc). Mining control was initially set up.

As to agro-forestry production, because of the favourable weather conditions, the area seeded was beyond all expectations. Rice cultivated area was 41, 667 ha, 0.3% more than the set yearly plan.

As to socio-cultural aspect, the province has accelerated the training and education operations, timely and scheduledly organized the national public health programs, seriously implemented social policies and maintained the social security.

Politically, to build up the CPV, on September 2007, the Executive and Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee has approved 8 projects on different fields, thoroughly grasped the policies of the CPV and effectively carried out the movement “Following the example of Uncle Ho”. The Provincial People’s Council operations have been reformed for better service. The Provincial National Front Committee and other agencies has completed the propaganda mission, contributing to the socio-economic security and development.

At the meeting, many weakness of the province were also pointed out: the modest production capacity and competitiveness of many products, the lack of capital for basic construction, slow site clearance process of some target projects, serious social evils and traffic accidents, illegal mining, etc. Besides, some retrograde and degenerate elements of security services arrested has raised stir in public opinion. There were still many limitations in the implementation of administrative reform, especially the one gate policy.
The focuses of the meeting were the plan implementation for the rest of 2007 and orientations for 2008. The provincial situation was forecasted to grow better in the next period. In 2008, the province will try to reach the set economic growth rate of 12.5% and the reduction in the poverty rate of a tad 2.7 % over in 2007. Administrative reform was considered the key to improve business environment, therefore, attract more investments.
At the end of the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Van Vuong, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee appreciated positive results in the past 9 months of 2007, simultaneously made careful recommendations on the provincial shortcomings and next operations. Regarding the tasks for the last quarter of 2007, Mr. Vuong said that more effort must be made to overcome the existing problems, complete the current projects, accelerate administrative reform and the fight against corruption and wastefulness, and reduce traffic accidents in order to achieve the set yearly plan. To build up plans for 2008, he highly stressed on 5 criteria: to increase growth rate and product competitiveness, to develop high qualified human resources, to maintain socio-political security, to improve living standard of local people.