Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee: We must have an offensive spirit in the economic growth scenario.

On the morning of May 22nd, the Provincial People's Committee held its regular monthly meeting for May. Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, presided over the meeting.

The meeting was co-chaired by comrades: Le Hong Vinh - Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Hoang Nghia Hieu - Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Le Ngoc Hoa - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee. Also attending the meeting was Comrade Cao Thi Hien - Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council. Photo: Pham Bang

BUDGET REVENUE REACHES NEARLY 6,000 BILLION VND

At the meeting, the leaders of the Provincial People's Committee Office presented a report on the implementation of the conclusions of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee at the April 2020 meeting and the conclusions of the Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of the Provincial People's Committee at the thematic working sessions in April 2020.

In May 2020, all sectors and levels focused on directing the implementation of tasks and solutions to continue removing difficulties for production and business, transitioning to a "new state" that simultaneously prevents and controls the Covid-19 pandemic while focusing on removing difficulties for production and business, and effectively carrying out socio-economic development tasks.

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Duc - Deputy Director of the Department of Planning and Investment, reported on the socio-economic situation in May and projected growth scenarios for 2020. Photo: Pham Bang

In May, the Industrial Production Index increased by 6.59% compared to April 2020 and reached 95.7% compared to the same period in May 2019. Total export turnover for the first four months was estimated at US$321 million, a decrease of 9.07% compared to the same period, of which merchandise export turnover was estimated at US$230 million, a decrease of 6.12% compared to the same period.

Agricultural production was generally not significantly affected, but the pandemic has restricted the trade of agricultural products. Businesses and tourism establishments are facing many difficulties; many hotels have been put up for sale, and travel agencies have announced the cessation of operations and the return of business licenses. It is estimated that in May 2020, the number of overnight visitors reached 100,000, equivalent to 16.9% compared to the same period last year; tourism revenue is estimated at 80 billion VND.

State budget revenue in the area in May was estimated at 774.6 billion VND, bringing the cumulative revenue for the first five months of 2020 to 5,977 billion VND. Total budget revenue did not meet the assigned plan and was not sustainable. The structure of some revenue items decreased compared to the same period last year, and the budget revenue situation in the coming months is expected to face many difficulties.

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Hai - Director of the Department of Finance, delivers his remarks. Photo: Pham Bang

As of April 30, 2020, the disbursement rate reached 30.5% of the total plan. The province's disbursement rate is higher than the national average (the whole country only reached 18.98% of the plan assigned by the Prime Minister), and the Ministry of Finance assessed it as one of the top 10 localities nationwide with a disbursement rate exceeding 30%.

GROWTH SCENARIOS MUST BE ATTACKING.

Based on the socio-economic development plan for 2020 and the projected economic growth for 2020 according to data reviewed across sectors and fields up to the end of April 2020, the Department of Planning and Investment has projected the following economic growth scenarios for 2020 under the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic:

- Scenario 1:The Covid-19 pandemic was brought under control in the second quarter of 2020. The projected growth rate of the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) in 2020 is 5.5-6%; budget revenue is expected to reach only about 14,060 billion VND...

- Scenario 2:The Covid-19 pandemic was brought under control in the third quarter of 2020. The projected growth rate for the gross regional product was 4-4.5%; budget revenue was only expected to reach approximately 12,600 billion VND...

- Scenario 3:The Covid-19 pandemic was brought under control in the fourth quarter of 2020. The projected growth rate for the gross regional product was less than 2%; budget revenue was only expected to reach approximately 11,800 billion VND...

Comrade Le Ngoc Hoa - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee - requested that departments, agencies, and localities focus on providing better advice to the provincial leadership to resolve difficulties for businesses. Photo: Pham Bang

At the meeting, representatives from the Departments of Finance, Industry and Trade, Tourism, and the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board... raised many opinions aimed at finding ways to overcome difficulties for production and business activities in the area.

Concluding this discussion, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung stated that the results of implementing socio-economic development tasks in May have begun to show some positive signs.

Agricultural production was on track, industrial production showed signs of recovery; service and tourism activities began to recover; budget revenue increased compared to April; the disbursement rate of public investment was good; social welfare work was implemented quickly...

Regarding future tasks and solutions, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested that departments and agencies review their growth scenarios, as the current scenarios lack the necessary momentum for an aggressive approach.

Nghe An has the potential and the foundation to achieve a higher level, demonstrating the province's determination. A scenario with a growth rate of 6.5-7% is necessary; this is an aggressive approach. Therefore, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee assigned the Department of Industry and Trade as the focal point, coordinating with other departments and agencies to advise the Provincial People's Committee on resolving difficulties for 12 large-scale projects preparing to enter production, in order to achieve the higher target.

“We must accelerate policies to create an environment that attracts investment. Nghe An still has many conditions for attracting foreign investment. Infrastructure has been basically invested in. Therefore, firstly, we need to pay more attention to land policies to attract more investment, create better revenue, create jobs, generate income, and create a better economic ecosystem... Secondly, the issue of investment procedures should be simplified as much as possible; we must work together with businesses.”

Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An Province, Nguyen Duc Trung

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung requested that all departments review the growth scenario because Nghe An has the potential and basis to achieve an economic growth rate of 6.5 - 7%. Photo: Pham Bang

The head of the Provincial People's Committee also requested a strengthening of promotional activities and the creation of policies to stimulate tourism demand. The Department of Planning and Investment will act as the focal point, regularly and promptly updating the results of public investment disbursement so that relevant departments and investors are aware and any obstacles can be resolved immediately.

From June 2020, review projects that are unlikely to disburse funds or have low disbursement rates and consider adjustments to ensure the progress of public investment fund disbursement.

For the 8 urgent projects whose investment policies have been approved by the Provincial People's Council, efforts should be made to allocate planned capital in 2020 for implementation.

In addition, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested proactive compilation and review of the public investment plan for the next period to ensure readiness. Accordingly, for the period 2021-2025, focus will be placed on truly key projects that create momentum; the province's view is to avoid scattered investments.

"All departments, agencies, and localities must pay attention to the implementation of public investment projects. Any agency that is slow will not only have its funds reallocated but will also be subject to disciplinary review," Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung emphasized.

Financial support is provided to eligible beneficiaries under Government Resolution No. 42 in Yen Thanh district. (Photo: Thai Hong)

The Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs also needs to continue to effectively implement social security work as stipulated in Government Resolution 42; and the policy of creating jobs for workers in Nghe An who have returned during the pandemic to ensure social stability.

Departments and agencies should proactively review, scrutinize, and agree on administrative procedures, remove procedural obstacles, and expedite the resolution process. When advising the Provincial People's Committee, they should clearly express their opinions.

At the meeting, the Provincial People's Committee also listened to and commented on the report on the results of the 5-year implementation of Resolution 39-NQ/TW of the Politburo on streamlining the workforce and restructuring the staff of cadres, civil servants, and public employees; the draft Resolution of the Provincial People's Council on approving the total number of employees and labor contracts in public non-business units and associations in 2021; the draft Resolution of the Provincial People's Council amending Resolution No. 170/2015/NQ-HĐND dated July 10, 2015 of the Provincial People's Council on regulations on some population and family planning policies in the province; policies to support the development of community tourism; policies to improve the effectiveness of drug prevention, control and management; the issuance of criteria for reviewing applications for the establishment and change of office locations of notary offices; and the planning project for the construction of Nam Dan district.