5:15:21 PM | 29/8/2005
Can Tho has seen a great change for the better since it became a centrally-run city one year ago. The city’s recorded achievements have shown that Can Tho would become a major economic centre in the Mekong delta, and Vietnam in the near future. ViB Forum interviewed Vo Thanh Tong, deputy secretary of the Can Tho Party Committee and chairman of the Can Tho People’s Committee, about the city’s development.
What achievements has Can Tho recorded since it became a centrally-run city one year ago?
Since Can Tho became a centrally-run city, it has maintained a high economic growth rate despite many difficulties of a newly re-established city. Our GDP growth rate in 2004 was put at 14.93 per cent. Per capita income has reached US$647 per year, or US$200 higher than 2003. Our economic structure has changed alongside the country’s industrialisation and modernisation process. We have boosted international co-operation and expanded export markets. In agriculture, we have concentrated on developing a commodity-based production and forming concentrated material supply areas. As a result, the sector gained a growth rate of 7.5 per cent with many effective production models earning between VND 40 million and 60 million per hectare per year. The services have attracted many economic sectors and gained a growth rate of 14.39 per cent. Can Tho earned US$321.4 million in export turnover, up by 27.15 per cent. Tourism services alone saw a growth rate of 17 per cent. Other services, including banking, transportation, insurance and consulting have been expanded to meet the city’s economic development. Total production value of the city reached VND 16,000 billion. Our budget revenues stood at VND 2,200 billion, 29.25 per cent higher than the yearly plan. Total social investment capital was put at VND 4,000 billion, up by 41.05 per cent. This has helped the city improve its infrastructure facilities, building more new urban areas and upgrading the existing ones. Exemplary works include a multi-function gymnasium, the Can Tho I water supply plant, the Co-op mart Can Tho and the Metro Hung Loi supermarkets. Also, we have promoted cultural activities and given attention to poverty reduction and charity house building programmes.
During international integration, a flexible government with open mechanisms and policies is needed for attracting investment and development economy. How will Can Tho reform its administrative procedures?
In 2005, the city’s Party Committee and People’s Council has set a target of continuing to promote administrative reform, mobilising all resources for socio-economic infrastructure development. Therefore, we will promote the implementation of a ‘one-door’ mechanism under the Decision 181/2003/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister in all communes, wards and towns, as well as local departments and agencies. Accordingly, we will concentrate on simplifying procedures for land use right certificates, construction permissions and business registration, thus building an effective apparatus in the people’s interest.
The People’s Committee of Can Tho will issue a regulation on relationship between its office and local departments, agencies and People’s Committees of districts and management boards of projects and will apply information technology in some administrative aspects. At the same time, we will continue to perfect the regulations on the organisation and activities of local departments, agencies and People’s Committees of districts, communes, wards and towns, implementing Decrees 171/2004/ND-CP and 172/2004/ND-CP, to avoid any overlapping in their functions and powers. We will also focus on training staff members, sending them to training courses in Vietnam and foreign countries, and continue to promote the implementation of the 112 Programme on computerisation of State management and build an administrative portal of Can Tho city.
What solutions will Can Tho develop to attract domestic and foreign investment flows to promote its economic development?
The Party Committee and authorities of Can Tho have considered one of the main targets of the city to attract domestic and foreign investors. To that end, we have promoted administrative reform, creating more favourable conditions in terms of land rent, land use right transfer and business licences for investors. Recently, we have issued new regulations on investment encouragement and priority policies, and infrastructure development and vocational training supports.
At the same time, Can Tho is amending and supplementing legal documents on resettlement, vocational training and management, and the building of residential areas in concentrated industrial parks, as well as infrastructure development. We will issue concrete policies on industrial parks and complexes.
The Politburo issued Resolution 45/NQ-TW on developing Can Tho during the industrialisation and modernisation. What will Can Tho do to complete the heavy task?
Having implemented the Politburo’s Resolution 45/NQ-TW and the Can Tho Party Standing Committee’s Plan 10-KH/TU, the Can Tho People’s Committee has developed a plan on developing Can Tho city throughout 2020 and a five year socio-economic development plan for the 2006-2010 period on a basis of the city’s socio-economic master plan until 2020 to submit the Prime Minister for consideration and approval. At the same time, we have guided local departments and agencies to work out their development programmes until 2010. We will strive to develop Can Tho into a city, first class, before 2010.
To that end, we will promote the development of socio-economic infrastructure in 2005 and 2006 with capital from State budget, Government bonds, and ODA. Furthermore, we will implement a project on training 150 masters and doctors in foreign countries, establishing economics, bio-tech and hi-tech institutes, building hospitals and senior secondary schools.
With such concrete programmes and projects, I believe that the city will soon complete the targets set by the Politburo’s Resolution 45/NQ-TW.
Reported by Thi Oanh
Vietnamese
