In the context of an economy riddled with difficulties, thanks to the efforts and determination of the whole industry and the business community, the Industry and Trade sector of Can Tho City has achieved encouraging results, Mr Nguyen Minh Toai, Director of the Department of Trade and Industry of Can Tho, shared with the Vietnam Business Forum. Han Luong reports.
Could you introduce some of the highlights of the activities carried out by the Industry and Trade sector of Tho City in the past time?
In terms of industrial production, the city has taken strong measures to remove difficulties and to support businesses. Therefore, industrial production has had positive changes and maintained sustainable growth. The value of industrial production in 2012 reached VND22,013 billion, up 11.55 percent compared with 2011. That of the first nine months of 2013 reached VND31,185 billion, up 6.7 percent compared to the same period last year. In terms of internal trade, in 2012, the total retail sales and service revenues reached VND53,836 billion, exceeding the plan by 9 percent and up 17.9 percent from 2011. Meanwhile, that of the first nine months of 2013 is estimated at VND42,476 billion, reaching 66.37 percent of the annual plan and increasing 13.76 percent year on year. Regarding foreign trade, in 2012, the exports of major items met several difficulties on consumption markets and export prices fell. Export turnover of goods and currency exchange service reached USD 1,291 million, reaching 86.1 percent of the plan and down 14.3 percent compared with 2011. In the first nine months of 2013, that figure is estimated at nearly USSD 995.8 million, reaching 66.4 percent of the annual plan and up 9.5 percent over the same period.
What significant measures has the Industry and Trade sector of the city carried out to help solve difficulties for businesses and promote the development of industrial and commercial activities in the area?
The Department of Trade and Industry has advised the City People's Committee to implement a number of activities to support business during the past time, including promoting cooperation links. Accordingly, Can Tho’s Department for Industry and Trade, in collaboration with other provinces’ Department of Industry and Trade in Mekong Delta area and Ho Chi Minh City, links trade cooperation between manufacturing enterprises and distribution enterprises to seek support for the product output of enterprises. The department also strengthens market management to prevent smuggling, counterfeiting and commercial fraud. Besides, it creates favourable conditions in administrative procedures for citizens through public listing of the “one-stop-shop” department and on the website of the Department of Trade and Industry. Currently, the Department of Trade and Industry is applying the ''online one-stop-shop” model and online services at level 3 to serve organizations, individuals and businesses in the city.
How are the application of cleaner production standards in industry and adding value to commodities which are local strengths being implemented in Can Tho?
Application of cleaner production in industrial production will help industrial enterprises to use raw materials and fuel safely, raise management effectiveness, and improve the quality of enterprise’s products without high cost to bring economic benefits to the enterprise, helping businesses reduce input costs and the volume of waste polluting the environment.
Therefore, industrial manufacturing enterprises applying cleaner production will contribute to improving product quality and brand of business. With the large number of production facilities located in Can Tho, the potential to apply cleaner production in Can Tho province is huge. The promotion for industrial enterprises to implement cleaner production is essential in industrial production.
Can you tell us something about the orientation of Industry and Trade Sector of Can Tho City towards 2020?
To carry out its role as the leader and driving force of the development of the key economic zone in Mekong Delta area, Can Tho City has been trying to focus all resources to develop the city as a centre of industry, commerce, services and tourism. The department continues to consider exports a key task in the period towards 2020. At the same time, it encourages export of products with high competitiveness, boosts trade promotion, trademarks goods along with restricting the import of products the country can produce. The department also supports businesses and encourages them to focus on maintaining and expanding market, to maintain and enhance the reputation of products, to improve design and to enhance product quality.
The department is striving to achieve average growth of industrial production in the period 2011 – 2015, industry – construction structure towards 2015 in the economy, average growth in the period 2016 – 2020, industry- construction structure in 2020 of the economy of 18.47, 51.35, 16.7 and 48.6 percent a year, respectively. Total retail sale of goods and services is expected to reach an average growth rate of 20.2 and 29.3 percent a year in the period of 2011-2015 and 2016 -2020, respectively. It is also expected that growth rate of the average export value in the period of 2011-2015 and 2015-2020 will reach 16.8 and 16.1 percent a year, respectively.
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