Government regular meeting April 2013

Continuing to focus on removing difficulties, promoting production and business development, focusing on strengthening solutions to stabilize the macro economy; not being subjective or negligent about the goal of curbing inflation; implementing flexible and effective monetary policies; resolutely maintaining exchange rate stability... are important contents discussed in the April 2013 meeting of the Government.

The Government held its regular meeting in April 2013. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

On April 26, the Government held its regular meeting for April 2013 under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Continue to focus on removing difficulties and promoting production and business development

Discussing the socio-economic situation in April and the first four months of 2013, Government members stated that the macro-economy continued to have positive changes.

Inflation was controlled, the consumer price index (CPI) in April 2013 increased by 0.02% compared to the previous month, the lowest increase compared to the same period in the past 4 years; prices and the market were quite stable; interest rates continued to be adjusted downward, contributing to removing difficulties for production and business activities; exchange rates and the foreign exchange market were relatively stable; liquidity of commercial banks improved significantly; State foreign exchange reserves increased; exports continued to maintain high growth; social security continued to be guaranteed; people's lives, especially the poor, the unemployed, and families with revolutionary contributions, were taken care of...

Besides affirming the achieved results, the Government members also frankly pointed out the shortcomings and limitations that need to be focused on overcoming, in which the following are prominent: Both the agricultural, forestry and fishery sectors and the industrial and construction sectors have certain difficulties; industrial production, especially the processing and manufacturing industry, faces difficulties due to high input costs, reduced purchasing power, and slow consumption; lending interest rates are still high compared to the capital absorption capacity of enterprises; restructuring of commercial banks, handling bad debts in the banking system and the real estate market are slow to be resolved...

Many members of the Government believe that it is necessary to continue to focus on removing difficulties and creating conditions to promote production and business development to maintain growth momentum, in which in the immediate future, it is necessary to effectively implement solutions to promote the development of agricultural and industrial production. In industry, it is necessary to pay special attention to supporting, processing and manufacturing industries. In agricultural development, it is necessary to proactively grasp the situation and proactively respond to complicated developments of natural disasters and epidemics; focus on implementing solutions to encourage and support exports...

According to Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat, the agricultural sector continues to develop, but also faces many difficulties, the biggest of which is the complicated development of the epidemic situation, drought in the Central and Central Highlands regions has significantly affected agricultural production results. Minister Cao Duc Phat proposed that the Government, relevant ministries and sectors support localities in fighting drought and epidemics; support people in converting crop varieties to cope with drought.

Minister Cao Duc Phat also requested ministries and local sectors to be more proactive and drastic in preventing and fighting poultry diseases, closely monitoring the development of the disease situation, strengthening disease control, resolutely preventing poultry smuggling in border areas; not allowing diseases to spread widely, especially for avian influenza, blue ear disease...

In addition, Minister Cao Duc Phat proposed that the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continue to synchronously implement solutions to expand export markets for agricultural products, especially key agricultural products, which are considered Vietnam's strengths.

Announcing some key results related to inspection work, handling complaints and denunciations, Government Inspector General Huynh Phong Tranh emphasized that localities need to pay attention and implement more effectively the work of handling complaints and denunciations right at the grassroots level to avoid the situation of complaints going beyond the central level; coordinate well with competent agencies to thoroughly resolve persistent, complicated and prolonged mass complaints.

Regarding the banking sector's operations, Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam Nguyen Van Binh said that capital mobilization in the economy is currently relatively good, exchange rates are stable, liquidity of banks has improved significantly, foreign exchange reserves of the State have increased, people's confidence in the Vietnamese Dong is stable, and the credit growth target of 12% is likely to be achieved. Governor Nguyen Van Binh also said that the State Bank is currently working closely with the Ministry of Construction to develop and promulgate mechanisms, policies, and specific instructions to soon implement a support package for middle-income and low-income people to borrow to buy houses.

Emphasizing that the disease situation in livestock and poultry is complicated, if it spreads widely, it will greatly affect people's health as well as cause great economic damage, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc requested ministries, branches and localities to continue to closely monitor the disease situation in livestock and poultry to have effective response measures.

The opinions of Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang, Government Inspector General Huynh Phong Tranh, Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Thi Hai Chuyen and some members of the Government also proposed to further accelerate the progress of economic restructuring projects and key national transport projects; have preferential policies for enterprises employing a lot of labor; strictly handle enterprises that deliberately delay social insurance debts; focus on vocational training and job creation for workers; provide adequate support for people in areas affected by natural disasters and epidemics to soon stabilize their lives and production; strengthen traffic patrols and control, effectively implement solutions to reduce congestion and curb traffic accidents...

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung delivered a concluding speech at the meeting. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Focus on stabilizing the macro economy, not neglecting the goal of controlling inflation

Concluding the meeting, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said that in April and the first four months of 2013, ministries and local sectors have thoroughly grasped and closely followed the resolutions of the Central Committee and the Government. The results of implementing socio-economic development tasks show that the situation in all aspects continues to have positive changes. However, it must be frankly acknowledged that there are aspects that are still slow, some aspects that are not yet solid, and some aspects that still have many difficulties and obstacles. Therefore, the tasks in the remaining months of 2013 are extremely heavy. The requirement is to be steadfast and persistent in the socio-economic development goals set for 2013, without raising the issue of adjustment.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung stated that leaders of ministries, branches and localities must closely follow the targets and direct the drastic, synchronous and effective implementation of the set tasks. Accordingly, it is necessary to first focus on strengthening solutions to stabilize the macro-economy; not be subjective or negligent in the goal of curbing inflation; implement flexible and effective monetary policies; resolutely maintain exchange rate stability...

Along with that, it is necessary to practice thorough thrift in public spending, combat waste; resolutely direct the work of state budget revenue and expenditure, ensure the balance of revenue and expenditure, and maintain the state budget deficit as approved. At the same time, speed up the disbursement of investment capital from the central budget to promote the increase of aggregate demand of the economy, thereby stimulating economic growth. Reform and create favorable conditions for attracting investment, especially attracting foreign direct investment projects, high-tech projects, creating great added value.

In addition, it is necessary to be more drastic in restructuring public investment, restructuring state-owned enterprises, and restructuring banks; there must be strict inspection and supervision of the implementation of these restructuring tasks.

At the same time, based on the actual situation, have appropriate interest rate policies to support production and the market; focus on removing difficulties, promoting production and business development. Review and update the list of non-essential goods, domestically produced goods to have import control measures; promote trade promotion activities, develop the domestic market, expand export markets...

Continue to pay attention to effectively implementing policies to ensure social security and social welfare. Promote solutions to support rapid and sustainable poverty reduction for poor districts, communes, villages and hamlets with special difficulties. Pay attention to creating jobs and increasing income for workers. Ministries and relevant agencies also need to promptly issue specific instructions for subjects borrowing capital to buy social housing.

The Prime Minister noted that ministries, sectors and localities need to continue to resolutely implement solutions to ensure traffic order and safety, reduce traffic congestion and accidents; ensure that in 2013, all three criteria of the number of cases, the number of injured people and the number of people killed in traffic accidents will be reduced; and in the immediate future, this work will be well implemented during the upcoming long holidays of April 30 and May 1.

Focus on monitoring and proactively implementing plans to prevent and control blue ear disease, H5N1, H7N9, etc., promptly supporting people to stabilize production and life after natural disasters and epidemics. Synchronously deploy solutions to ensure national defense and security, maintain national sovereignty, ensure political security, social order and safety as well as solutions to ensure safety, information security, and network security.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung emphasized the need for ministries, sectors and localities to pay close attention to information, communication and dissemination work, providing objective, honest and multi-dimensional information on all aspects of the socio-economic situation in order to create social consensus. It is especially necessary to pay close attention to information work on price management of essential goods, especially petrol and oil prices, to avoid the situation where people and public opinion lack information or have information but it is incomplete, leading to one-sided understanding, even misunderstanding of petrol and oil price management as well as the perception that such management lacks publicity and transparency.

According to (Chinhphu.vn) - LT