The Standing Committee of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee gave opinions on socio-economics, public investment, and administrative reform in the first 6 months of 2023

Attending the meeting were comrades: Nguyen Van Thong - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Hoang Nghia Hieu - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; representatives of a number of Central Party Committees; comrades in the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, and leaders of a number of departments and branches.

CONTINUING TO MAINTAIN GROWTH MOMENTUM

In the first 6 months of the year, along with the whole country, Nghe An faced many difficulties and challenges; prolonged hot weather, causing water shortages, local power shortages,... affecting production and life. In that difficult context, the socio-economic situation in the province continued to maintain growth momentum and achieved many positive results.

The gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth rate is estimated to increase by 5.79%, higher than the national average, ranking 32nd out of 63 provinces and cities. The estimated budget revenue is 8,489 billion VND; of which, domestic revenue is estimated at 7,858 billion VND, reaching 53.9% of the estimate; revenue from import-export activities is estimated at 630 billion VND.

In particular, investment attraction continues to achieve positive results. As of June 22, 2023, the province has newly granted 65 projects and adjusted 81 projects; the total newly granted and increased capital is 22,186.4 billion VND, of which newly granted capital is 19,714.8 billion VND; compared to the same period in 2022, newly granted projects increased by 20.37%, the total newly granted capital increased by 1.32 times.

In particular, attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) continues to be a bright spot. In the first 6 months of 2023, 8 FDI projects were attracted with a registered capital of 613.8 million USD, the total newly granted and adjusted capital was 725.4 million USD, ranking 8th out of 63 localities nationwide.

Projects and works, especially key projects in the province (such as coastal roads, North-South expressways, etc.) are being focused on and directed resolutely, aiming to speed up implementation progress and promote disbursement of public investment capital.

The fields of culture, society and social security have received attention and direction and have seen many improvements. In particular, in the difficult context, support activities, connecting labor supply and demand, and job creation have received attention.

State management and administrative reform work continues to receive attention and direction and has positive changes. The results of the announcement of the indicators: PCI, PAPI, PAR Index, SIPAS in 2022 achieved quite positive results compared to 2021. The management and operation work of the Provincial People's Committee and District People's Committees has made much progress, is more drastic and more focused.

The province has basically completed a number of important contents: Summarizing 10 years of implementing Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW; thereby, the Politburo agreed to issue a Resolution on construction and development of Nghe An province to 2030, with a vision to 2045 for implementation; completing the submission to the Prime Minister for consideration and approval of the Planning of Nghe An province for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050.

National defense and security continued to be maintained, social order and safety were ensured. Foreign affairs had many outstanding activities.

However, in addition to the achieved results, there are still many difficulties and limitations that need to be focused on solving in the coming time, such as: GRDP growth rate has not reached the set 6-month scenario (8.4-9.4%), lower than the same period in 2022 (8.44%). Production and business activities face many difficulties, especially in the industrial, construction and some types of services. The export market is narrowing, many businesses lack orders leading to labor cuts, causing a reduction in working hours and job losses.

State budget revenue is lower than the same period in 2022 and has not met the set scenario; some revenue items are low such as: land use fees, environmental protection tax, revenue from import and export activities.

Although the disbursement rate of public investment capital plans in the area is higher than the national average, it is still lower than the same period in 2022 and has not met expectations (as of June 20, 2023, the disbursement rate of public investment capital sources reached 29.7% of the plan).

Although administrative reform has been directed to be implemented vigorously, it has not met the requirements; the time to process documents and work of some departments, branches and localities is still slower than prescribed.

At the meeting, the opinions of the comrades in the Provincial Party Standing Committee were unanimous, acknowledging the results achieved in the socio-economic situation in the first 6 months of the year in the context of many difficulties; at the same time, discussing some related contents such as building a set of socio-economic indicators; continuing to resolutely promote administrative reform, especially creating changes at the grassroots level; removing difficulties in land auctions; implementing Project 06;...

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province Nguyen Duc Trung informed and clarified the reasons why the province's GRDP growth rate in the first 6 months of this year did not meet the set scenario; in which, one of the important reasons is that the province's key industrial products are facing difficulties.

Based on the analysis, in the last 6 months of the year, in addition to the main tasks, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province said that he will continue to focus on removing difficulties for businesses to promote growth, meeting the set goals; at the same time, promoting investors with investment projects to complete construction and put into production to supplement the growth capacity of the province.

Regarding the disbursement rate of public investment capital, although higher than the national average, it is still lower than the same period in 2022 and has not met expectations, comrade Nguyen Duc Trung said that the Party Committee of the Provincial People's Committee will issue a resolution, organize a thematic conference, consider transferring the investor if the investor is not qualified and will even have measures on personnel work;... to speed up the disbursement of public investment capital in the last 6 months of the year.

HIGHLIGHT RESPONSIBILITY IN PERFORMING PUBLIC DUTIES

Concluding this content, Nghe An Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy acknowledged the efforts and attempts in implementing the socio-economic development goals in the first 6 months of 2023, in the context of many difficulties.

Agreeing with the solutions presented by the Party Committee of the Provincial People's Committee on implementing tasks for the last 6 months of the year, the Provincial Party Secretary proposed focusing on implementing the set targets.

In order to disburse public investment capital this year at 95% or more, the Provincial Party Secretary supported the solutions that have been implemented by the Provincial People's Committee since the first 6 months of the year, such as: Transferring capital from projects that cannot be disbursed, or have signs of not being disbursed, to projects with good disbursement to bring capital into the economy.

However, for this issue, a very important reason is the capacity of investors, mainly the project management board at the district level. The Provincial Party Secretary requested to review the work of cadres, to replace and arrange people with enough capacity and enthusiasm to take charge; at the same time, transfer investors, with the view that if the district level cannot do it, they will transfer to the provincial level to be the investor; strengthen inspection, supervision, and reminders combined with timely direction solutions, along with the responsibility of the head.

Along with that, Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy also supported the viewpoint of including standards and conditions for not allowing bidding for contractors who are slow in implementing projects, paying and settling accounts.

The head of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee requested that in the last 6 months of the year, it is necessary to continue to strongly improve the investment environment; urge to speed up the progress of key projects of the province. To do so, it is necessary to continue to promote administrative procedure reform, tighten the responsibility of leaders, localities, agencies, management units, monitor cadres and party members; resolutely handle and transfer cadres causing "blockage" of procedures. The Provincial Party Committee Secretary said: Currently, the Provincial Steering Committee on anti-corruption and negativity continues to direct, monitor and handle petty corruption, to improve the effectiveness of administrative reform.

Nghe An Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy also requested to focus on coordinating with central agencies to soon approve the Provincial Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, and deploy the next steps; at the same time, thoroughly implement the new Resolution of the Politburo on building and developing Nghe An province to 2030, with a vision to 2045 after being issued in a systematic manner, creating a vibrant competitive atmosphere, getting involved from the beginning of the entire political system and people of the whole province. The leading agencies and units of the province need to advise on the methodical implementation of the Resolution, especially, proposing new mechanisms and policies for the development of the province.

The head of the Provincial Party Committee also requested to perform well the tasks in the fields of culture and society; resolutely implement the construction of houses for poor households. The Provincial Party Committee Secretary also discussed and pointed out the implementation direction with the proposed opinions and discussions at the meeting; in which, agreed to the Department of Planning and Investment to build a system of socio-economic indicators for localities according to each urban area, plains, and mountainous areas to apply uniformly throughout the province at all levels from the 2025 - 2030 term.

Also in the working program this morning, the Provincial Party Standing Committee listened to and commented on many other important contents such as: Policy to adjust the zoning plan of Vinh - Cua Lo Boulevard and the area on both sides of Vinh - Cua Lo Boulevard (scale 1/2,000); plan to use increased revenue sources, save provincial budget expenditures in 2022 and sources of recovered works and projects that are not eligible to transfer sources to 2023; listened to and commented on the policy to build the "Uncle Ho Visits Hometown" Monument at the Kim Lien National Special Relic Site, Nam Dan, Nghe An;...