4:54:30 PM | 23/11/2012
Hit by economic the slowdown, Nghe An province - a leading economy in the North Central Region, faces considerable challenges. More than ever, the thought of going with businesses through the "storm" is the top priority of provincial authorities. Vietnam Business Forum Magazine has an interview with Mr Ho Duc Phoc, Chairman of Nghe An People’s Committee, on this issue. Phan Quang reports.
Nghe An province’s growth was estimated at 6.13 percent in the first nine months of this year while the full-year target was 9.5 - 10 percent. What is your opinion about this?
Due to the domestic and global economic downturn, reduced public investments, growing bad debts, and a shrinking market, as well as some investment projects having to be delayed and not put into operation in 2012. However, in the overall picture, Nghe An experienced high growth in the first nine months, estimated at 6.13 percent (compared with 4.73 percent nationwide). This showed great determination by the people and Party of Nghe An province. Some targets were still reached and exceeded, including food production of 1 million tonnes, poverty reduction (poverty rate was 16.78 percent at the end of September 2012), education, health and culture. We are focusing on promoting internal resources and attracting investment for economic development.
In 2013, the economy is forecast to continue facing hardship. The province will give priority to agriculture and rural development, social security, and food security, enhance administrative reform, attract investment, solve difficulties for businesses, and complete and put into operation incomplete projects.
Nghe An province puts forth solutions to implement plansin remaining months of 2012. Accordingly, the province will "follow State mechanisms and policies, overcome limitations and weaknesses, and proactively complete objectives and tasks set for 2012." How has Nghe An done?
We drastically focus on supporting businesses to deal with difficulties, organise talks with businesses, dialogues between tax authorities and businesses, dialogues between banks and businesses, resolve difficulties in real estate projects, and apply single-window mechanism. Besides, we placed a weight on agriculture and social security and promptly 88 departments pledged to help poor communes with quicker and more efficient socio-economic development, mobilise enterprises to build houses for the poor, build social welfare works, accelerate the construction of new countryside, build 380 km of rural roads, expand construction, and develop new economic models. We also resolve complaints and denunciations, and remove difficulties for investors to quicken their projects.
For the remaining two months of 2012, we will assign our subordinates to achieve and exceed targets to lay a stronger stepping stone for 2013.
Where does Nghe An province attract investment for this year and the next?
Nghe An province will continue improving the investment and business environment to become a trusted destination for investors. The province will attract as much investment capital as possible to supplement total social investment capital to achieve socio-economic development targets between 2011 - 2015. Our key task is drawing investment capital into Dong Nam Economic Zone, industrial zones, townships, and education in three key economic areas. We give priority to processing of agricultural, forest and seafood products, trade services, tourism, human resource training, and high-tech manufacturing. In this period, we prioritise labour-intensive, high-tech, energy-saving and environment-friendly projects, specially FDI projects.
2012 and the next year will see a lot of difficulties. Businesses are calling on the government to weather "storm" with them. What has Nghe An done to travel with businesses?
In the context of the economic slowdown, we share difficulties with enterprises. On the one hand, we suggest firms choose better investment plans, make what the market needs, and utilise local advantages. We support them to accelerate effective investment projects expected to provide returns. We will implement central mechanisms and policies and provincial policies. We will concentrate on administrative reform, deploy single-window mechanism, build infrastructure, carry out site clearance, and hand over land to investors on schedule, apply low land rent rates for enterprises, and train human resources to meet the demand of investors.
What would you like to sharewith Nghe An entrepreneurs in this context?
2012 is a tough year but 2013 is forecast to be tougher. Thus, businesses unite together, cut down expenses, select appropriate technologies, anticipate market demand and to plan effective production and output. Besides, they need to report difficulties to the authorities at all tiers to seek support. I believe that, with their tradition and quality, plus timely support from the government, businesses will certainly live through the hardships and stabilise future production and development.
Thank you very much!
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