Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Le Van Thanh gave a speech at the meeting. (Photo: Hoang Ngoc/VNA)
On the afternoon of October 23, Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Le Van Thanh had a meeting with key leaders of Hai Phong City on the socio-economic development situation.
Continuously promote strengths of the City
Reporting at the meeting, Chairman of Hai Phong City People's Committee Mr. Nguyen Van Tung said that, in the 10 months of 2021, the Party Committee and Authority of Hai Phong City had successfully organized the implementation of "dual tasks” of preventing and controlling "COVID-19 epidemic" as well as maintaining and developing socio-economic activities.
Despite being an area with very high risks of Covid-19 infection, Hai Phong has no deaths, the lowest number of infections in the Red River Delta area, and is the only city directly under the Central Government that has not yet had to implement "social distance" in accordance with Directive No. 16/CT-TTg of Prime Minister. Although trade, service and tourism sectors were significantly affected, in general, the city's socio-economic growth still maintained the development momentum. Main socio-economic indicators continued to have high growth rates, minimizing the impact of disease.
The city's economic growth in 9 months increased by 12.28%, 8.65 times higher than the whole country (1.42%), being the leading locality of the country. Index of industrial production (IIP) in 10 months increased by 19.22%; total export turnover reached 18.54 billion USD, increased by more than 25% over the same period. Foreign investment attraction in 10 months reached 2.86 billion USD, more than 2 times over the same period. Cargo through ports of 10 months reached more than 119 million tons, up 7% over the same period.
Referring to Resolution No. 45-NQ/TW of the Politburo on the construction and development of Hai Phong until 2030, with a vision to 2045, it defined that "Building Hai Phong into a leading city of country in the cause of industrialization and modernization, the driving force for development of northern region and the whole country, on a par with Asian cities…,”. Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Mr. Tran Duy Dong said that, in order to achieve this success, Hai Phong must have a consistently high economic growth rate. For this reason, the City needs to have breakthrough solutions.
According to Mr. Tran Duy Dong, there are two fields that still have potential for high growth, namely seaport and logistics. He also suggested Hai Phong needs to be determined to study and build a pilot free trade zone. The Ministry of Planning and Investment will closely coordinate with Hai Phong in answering this question. The second field is to train high-quality human resources.
Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Mr. Vo Tuan Nhan also said that marine economic development is the strength of Hai Phong. The City should pay attention to urban planning associated with ecological conservation, creating a harmony between economic development and environmental protection.
Minister of Transport Mr. Nguyen Van The said that Hai Phong has great potential and conditions in terms of infrastructure, traffic, seaport, airport, railway, road... Hai Phong's economic goals to 2030 and 2045 according to Resolution 45 are completely feasible.
However, Mr. Nguyen Van The stated that the City has good traffic infrastructure, but if there is no appropriate scientific planning of works, industrial parks and industrial clusters to synchronously exploit the advantages of Hai Phong, the good conditions are still only potential.
Want to have better development, need to do the right things
Giving the conclusion of the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Le Van Thanh said that Hai Phong has a very good foundation and momentum when in the past 5 years; the City has grown continuously by more than 15%. The Deputy Prime Minister recognized the great achievements of both prevention and control of the epidemic as well as maintenance of high growth rate of 12.28% in the difficult context of the whole country. This makes a lot of sense because Hai Phong's GDP accounts for 5% of national GDP.
Highly appreciating the results that Hai Phong has achieved in many fields such as export, investment attraction, disbursement of public investment capital, etc., Deputy Prime Minister noted that in order to achieve the goals of 2030 set out in Resolution No. 45-NQ/TW, "Hai Phong needs to have more spectacular development steps."
Besides opportunities, advantages, positions and potentials, Hai Phong also deals with a number of significant challenges such as improving the business investment environment to maintain the high growth rate.
Total social investment capital in 9 months reached about 118,000 billion VND, just about 58.25% of the year plan (204,000 billion VND). This is a huge challenge to achieve the goal of more than 01 trillion VND of investment capital in the next 5 years.
The scene of meeting (Photo: Hoang Ngoc/VNA)
Another problem of implementing the targets of 2030 is budget revenue. In 10 months of 2021, budget revenue reached more than 26,000 billion VND, however if the plan of this year is 35,000-36,000 billion VND, it is necessary to strive harder to complete this target. From now to 2030the budget revenue requirement is very large, with an amount of 230 trillion VND.
With regard to the development orientation, the Deputy Prime Minister said that Resolution No. 45-NQ/TW clearly stated and emphasized on 3 pillars: industry, tourism and seaport. If these three pillars are carried out well, the goals of 2030 will be achieved successfully.
About the industry sector of Hai Phong City, according to Deputy Prime Minister, the speed of attracting investment in this field is quite good. But it is necessary to focus more strongly to expand industrial zones and clusters. However, it is also necessary to strengthen the management process of industrial parks, overcome violations of construction orders. Industrial parks need to meet the criteria of civilization and modernity, attract clean and high-tech industry.
The second pillar is the tourism development, currently Hai Phong is a well-implemented locality with many wonderful natural landscapes. Hai Phong tourism will be developed more sharply after completion of cable-car route from Cat Hai to Cat Ba district.
The third pillar and driving force is the seaport. Hai Phong needs to quickly review the planning, relocate and rearrange old ports, attract large and potential investors to accelerate new investment in port zones and clusters, especially the South of Do Son international general port.
Regarding roads, the City has a planning for ring road 2, previously Deputy Prime Minister directed its implementation early; the City also should add more expressways from Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh to Hai Phong and railway from Nam Dinh to Hai Phong.
“This is a very synchronous infrastructure including a high-speed transport system, affirming the central location of Hai Phong with full 5 types of railway, road, airway, waterway and seaway. Recently, the Government has issued 5 master plans consecutively, creating very favorable conditions for the City to build a large-scale city commensurate with Resolution No.45-NQ/TW” assessed Deputy Prime Minister.
As for recommendations, the Deputy Prime Minister noted that, in order to build a well-developed city, the necessary and sufficient conditions are to do the right things and have more significant development.
Planning adjustments must be made carefully and thoroughly. The Deputy Prime Minister gave examples of some recent plans related to land funds, tree plantings, parks, etc., now they must be re-planned. "A mistake in planning is very dangerous. A misplaced factory causes serious losses of money, affecting the material and spiritual life of the whole residential area. Planning works require careful activities, avoid negligence, ensure legal requirements, and must not affect the city’s development model in the future," emphasized the Deputy Prime Minister.
Xuan Tung-Hoang Ngoc (VNA/Vietnam+)