To learn about the development of the trade and industry sector of Lam Dong province, Vietnam Business Forum interviewed Mr Huynh Ngoc Canh, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Lam Dong province. Thien Hoang reports.
Could you please introduce the major achievements of the industry and trade sector of Lam Dong province in the past years?
The industry and trade sector has made positive changes since 2013. Some big projects were brought into effective operation, including Tan Rai bauxite - aluminium project, Dong Nai 3 hydropower plant, Dong Nai 4 hydropower plant, BigC Da Lat Supermarket, Coop Mart Bao Loc Supermarket, and many traditional markets in the province. In addition, production equipment and technology of companies engaged in industry and trade have been invested for expansion and innovation. Many products have been recognised as high-quality goods for domestic market and for export and awarded popular prizes and medals in national and international events.
The value of industrial production has a high growth rate. In 2013, the industrial production value reached VND15,510.07 billion, up 59.84 percent year on year. In the first nine months of 2014, the value was VND10,538.03 billion, up 42.22 percent from the same period of 2013. The export turnover reached US$279.67 million in 2013 and US$370 million in the first nine months of 2014, up 69.58 percent year on year and 2.69 percent higher than the plan. Total retail sales of goods and services valued at VND36,973 billion in 2013, up 18.71 percent year on year, and VND24,241.7 billion in the first nine months of 2014, up 13.56 percent from a year earlier.
What has the Lam Dong Department of Industry and Trade done to support the business community at present and promote local commercial and industrial development?
The economy of Vietnam in general and of Lam Dong province in particular is still in difficulty. The Government and other authorities have issued a series of measures and solutions to stabilise the market. Specifically, the Government issued Resolution 02/NQ-CP dated January 7, 2013 on a number of measures to remove difficulties in production and business activities, support market and deal with bad debts. From this policy, the Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee directed its affiliated departments and local governments to carry out support and troubleshooting solutions for enterprises.
Specifically, the province has hosted regular meetings and dialogues with businesses to learn about their difficulties and challenges to have the best support policies; expanded the market and promoted investment and trade; assisted industrial and handicraft businesses to attend trade fairs and exhibitions to introduce products and brands, and seek and expand consumption markets; strengthened price and market inspection and control to stabilise the market; coordinated with other sectors to prevent and fight against illegal trade, smuggling, counterfeiting and trade fraudulence; and controlled food safety and prevent disease outbreaks in cattle and poultry. Besides, the department has encouraged consumers to use made-in-Vietnam goods, and assisted companies to follow cleaner production programmes.
How has the industry and trade sector of Lam Dong province impacted industrial production, competitiveness improvement and export boosting?
The industry and trade sector of Lam Dong province has seen considerable progress in key indicators in 2013 and the first nine months of 2014.
The province’s export revenue grossed US$279.67 million in 2013, down 3.09 percent over 2013 and equal to 82.26 percent of the full-year plan. In the first nine months of 2014, the exports valued at US$370 million, up 69.58 percent year on year. CPI growth was 6.85 percent in 2013 and 4.46 percent from a year earlier in the first nine months of 2014.
The index of industrial production rose 11.72 percent in 2013. Processing and manufacturing sectors expanded 17.5 percent on the surge in apparel, gold and alumina production. Water supply and waste treatment sector climbed 6.47 percent. Mining industry augmented 3.64 percent. Electricity production and distribution field increased 3.65 percent. The index of industrial production in the first nine months of 2014 leaped 27.1 percent from a year ago. Specifically, mining industry climbed 12.39 percent, processing and manufacturing, 39.60 percent; and water supply and sewage disposal, 3.39 percent.
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