Provincial Party Secretary: A promise is heavier than gold, once promised, it must be fulfilled

On the afternoon of September 26, comrade Nguyen Dac Vinh - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation had a working session with the Party Committee of the Provincial People's Committee. The meeting aimed to evaluate the results of the implementation of socio-economic tasks in the first 9 months of the year and solutions for the last 3 months of the year.

High domestic revenue

In the first 9 months of 2019, the total product in the province (GRDP) is estimated at 62,936 billion VND, up 7.68% over the same period. Of which, the agriculture, forestry and fishery sector is estimated at 13,525 billion VND, up 4.84%; the industry - construction sector is estimated at 19,910 billion VND, up 9.91%; the service sector is estimated at 26,460 billion VND, up 7.5% over the same period; product tax is 3,040 billion VND, up 7.84% over the same period.

Comrades Nguyen Dac Vinh - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation; Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee co-chaired the meeting. Photo: Dao Tuan.

Estimated revenue is 11,129.29 billion VND, reaching 82.5% of the estimate, up 15% over the same period. In particular, estimated domestic revenue is 9,888.29 billion VND, reaching 83.8% of the estimate, up 17.4%; revenue from import-export activities is estimated at 1,241 billion VND, reaching 73% of the estimate, equal to 98.6% over the same period.

Budget expenditure for the first 9 months is estimated at 18,446.29 billion VND, reaching 75.8% of the assigned estimate.

As of September 17, 2019, the province has newly granted (approved investment policy/issued Investment Registration Certificate) to 74 projects with a total registered investment capital of VND 8,744.09 billion. The total newly granted and increased capital is VND 9,412.15 billion.

Clarify many key issues

Speaking at the working session, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Nguyen Dac Vinh affirmed that the socio-economic situation in the first 9 months of the year showed advantages but also many difficulties. This is also the time to review and evaluate the socio-economic situation of the whole year. Moreover, the economic growth results in 2019 are also a pivotal basis for evaluating and determining the targets for the Provincial Party Congress for the 2015-2020 term.

The Provincial Party Secretary requested that the sectors analyze and clarify existing problems, both subjective and objective, to find solutions to promote growth. In particular, in terms of industry, there should be assessments of industrial and commercial production activities. In terms of agriculture, the content and orientation of restructuring the sector should be outlined in the context of the continued spread of African swine fever. In addition, it is necessary to clarify two key issues: productivity and value of food products.

Regarding the growth problem, it is necessary to clarify the relationship between investment attraction and economic growth rate, especially in the context of very good domestic revenue, while revenue from FDI enterprises has not met expectations. And paradoxically, the tax debt situation tends to increase.

Working scene. Photo: Dao Tuan

Regarding the implementation of some key projects, it is necessary to analyze more clearly the shortcomings and causes of problems, including a clear analysis of some projects in VSIP Industrial Park, Hemaraj... On that basis, re-evaluate the mechanism, policies and have solutions suitable to objective reality.

Some hydroelectric plants cannot supply power to the grid.

Analyzing the difficulties of the industrial sector, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade Hoang Van Tam said that some enterprises such as Masan, Hoa Sen Steel Corporation, TH Group... are not operating according to plan as in the scenario due to common difficulties in the country and the region.

Revenue from electricity production decreased because hydropower plants experienced a dry season without enough water to generate electricity. 5 plants along Highway 7 (except Ban Ve and Khe Bo hydropower plants) were overloaded when connected to the 110K grid and could not operate.

A corner of Vsip Industrial Park. Photo: Chau Lan

Regarding industrial production, after review, it is expected that the industry will have 13 products that meet or exceed the plan. However, there are also products that do not meet the plan such as: beer, wood chips and Hoa Sen corrugated iron...

Regarding the trade sector, the Director of the Department of Industry and Trade said that more than 75% of the plan has been achieved, and from now until the end of the year it is forecasted that there will be many favorable conditions.

However, regarding this issue, the Provincial Party Secretary requested the Industry and Trade sector to pay attention to investment in markets and commercial centers, especially the use of land in the commercial sector.

Tax debt of more than 1,600 billion VND

Regarding tax collection, Mr. Trinh Thanh Hai - Director of Nghe An Tax Department said that the remaining 3 months of 2019 could reach a revenue of 3,500 - 3,700 billion VND, compared to the scenario of possibly exceeding about 200 billion; there is room to complete the whole year plan as targeted.

Regarding domestic revenue, the progress and speed were good, 14/16 targets were met and exceeded. The two items lower than the estimate were revenue from foreign-invested enterprises and lottery. In particular, the reason for the low revenue from foreign enterprises was that some enterprises reduced production and tax payments. For example, Nghe An Tate & Lyle Sugar Factory paid 13 billion VND in tax in the first 8 months of 2019 compared to the first 8 months of 2018. In addition, tax revenue from contractors also decreased sharply.

Regarding tax arrears, the total outstanding debt is currently over 1,600 billion VND, of which 515 billion VND is uncollectible debt. The Tax Department has taken all measures, including enforcement, but still cannot collect this tax debt. Of the remaining 1,100 billion VND in tax debt, more than 500 billion VND is due to businesses that owe money to pay every 3 months, including businesses such as: Thien Minh Duc Group owes 445 billion VND; Vissai Cement owes 28 billion VND...

Director of Nghe An Tax Department Trinh Thanh Hai speaks at the meeting. Photo: Dao Tuan

The Director of the Tax Department requested the Party Committee of the Provincial People's Committee to restart the activities of the debt steering committee to collect and prevent tax losses.

Speaking at the meeting, representatives of the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board also clarified difficulties related to projects at VSIP Industrial Park, Hemaraj, N5 Road construction project, FLC Group projects, etc., clearly stating difficulties related to site clearance compensation and procedures that have not been appraised by central ministries and branches.

In directing this content, the Provincial Party Secretary requested the leaders of the Southeast Economic Committee to more clearly define the unit's responsibilities in monitoring, urging, promoting the completion of project procedures, and supporting businesses.

Restructuring the agricultural sector, recovering slow-progressing investment projects

Regarding the agricultural sector, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Van Lap said that after the complicated developments of African swine fever, from the second quarter of this year, the provincial agricultural sector has oriented to change the structure from pig farming to poultry and large livestock (buffalo, cow). In addition, strongly developing forestry and aquaculture.

Mountain people have invested in mechanization in agricultural production. Photo: Dinh Tuan

Regarding rice production, although the area has decreased, the value has still increased, because the structure of high-quality rice varieties accounts for more than 34%.

Regarding the new rural program, this year the province registered 39 communes and 1 district to meet the standards and strives to have more than 60% of communes meeting the new rural standards by the end of 2019.

Regarding the investment projects that are behind schedule and must be revoked, the leader of the Department of Planning and Investment said that since the beginning of the year, through inspection and review, 11 projects have been revoked, bringing the total number of revoked projects to 163. Currently, the Provincial People's Committee continues to assign the Department of Planning and Investment and related units to review and inspect 78 other projects.

At the meeting, representatives of the State Bank, Department of Construction, and Department of Transport also clarified the requested issues.

Look straight at the difficulties to remove the bottlenecks

Analyzing subjective and objective issues, the Provincial Party Secretary affirmed that in the context of general difficulties in the domestic and international economy, all levels and sectors must research, accompany and support businesses to remove obstacles.

Reminding the Departments and branches in performing their duties, comrade Nguyen Dac Vinh emphasized that they should not abuse objective reasons to justify their lack of effort. For that reason, with the tasks, works and projects that have been assigned by the province and committed to progress, the units must make every effort to do so.

According to the Provincial Party Secretary, a promise is heavier than gold, once made, it must be fulfilled, not only before the provincial leaders but also before the demands of reality and the people. We must look straight at the difficulties of objective reality to determine our responsibilities - the Provincial Party Secretary requested.

Regarding some key projects that are behind schedule and have not yet been appraised and approved by ministries and branches, comrade Nguyen Dac Vinh said that the Provincial People's Committee and departments and branches need to study and agree on a working mechanism between the province and central ministries and branches. Thereby, creating a favorable corridor for businesses when participating in investment in the province.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee speaks at the meeting. Photo: Dao Tuan

Receiving the direction of the Provincial Party Secretary, Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee affirmed that he will continue to adjust the management and leadership methods, especially in the last months of 2019.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also said that he had assigned the leaders of the Provincial People's Committee to thoroughly work with each project and enterprise that is facing difficulties to support in resolving the problems. The Provincial People's Committee is determined to complete the socio-economic targets set for 2019.