Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee: The Department of Industry and Trade needs to change its thinking and approach to effectively attract investment.

On the afternoon of June 20, under the chairmanship of comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, there was a working session with the Department of Industry and Trade. Also attending were comrade Le Hong Vinh - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; representatives of leaders of relevant departments and branches.

Industrial production value increased by more than 9% in 6 months

The report of the Department of Industry and Trade shows that the industrial production value of the province in the period of 2016 - 2018 increased rapidly and was higher than the target set by the Resolution of the Congress (17-18%). In 2018 alone, the growth rate reached 20.92%, the highest since 2011. The industrial production value in the first 6 months of the year is estimated at 26,268.9 billion VND, reaching 38.03% of the plan, up 9.15% over the same period in 2018.

The scale, structure and speed of import and export turnover of goods have been continuously increased; imported goods have contributed to meeting the demand for technological innovation, materials, raw materials and other goods for production and consumption. Commercial activities have developed rapidly with the participation of economic sectors.

At the meeting, representatives of departments and branches evaluated the results of implementing the set goals in the field of industry and trade; and gave opinions on a number of issues managed by the department. Delegates said that investment attraction and industrial and commercial development have improved but have not been really strong enough to meet development requirements. In the area, there are still 225 villages, hamlets and Mat island that do not have a national power grid, and it is expected that it will be difficult to complete bringing electricity to the villages before 2020...

Comrade Hoang Van Tam - Director of the Department of Industry and Trade reported on the development of the industry at the meeting. Photo: Viet Phuong

Speaking at the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Hong Vinh was concerned about some assessments of the industry, in which the value of industrial production in the first 6 months of the year only reached 38.03% of the plan while the target of 7,000 billion VND set in 2019 is difficult to achieve. The initiative in industrial production is slowing down; some key products are decreasing; for example, sugarcane: area, productivity, output, and sugar price are all decreasing.

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also raised the issue of tax losses, the quality of goods at fairs and mobile vending vehicles. In addition, localities are currently developing markets combined with commercial streets, but are commercial streets considered markets and how are they managed?

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Hong Vinh said that it is necessary to recalculate a reasonable investment rate because the investment cost for infrastructure is large but the efficiency of industrial parks is poor. Photo: Viet Phuong

Regarding solar energy, comrade Le Hong Vinh said that there is currently a support mechanism for investors so businesses are investing massively, but the problem is how to connect, the battery's operating time; and how to handle environmental issues because this is a type of toxic waste. Therefore, it is necessary to have a plan and careful research when investing in this type of energy...

Pay attention to planning and investing in industrial cluster infrastructure

Sharing about the issue of developing industrial parks, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Hong Vinh said that there is a phenomenon of some industrial parks operating ineffectively, some businesses building for the wrong purpose. It is necessary to recalculate the reasonable investment rate because the investment cost for infrastructure is large but the efficiency of industrial parks is not high.

Sharing the same view, Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Thai Van Nong said that the industrial picture has not improved recently. Meanwhile, in industrial zones, the rate of enterprises investing in environmental infrastructure is too low, not commensurate. Enterprises currently tend not to want to invest in industrial zones, or choose locations with commercial value, therefore, the Department of Industry and Trade and related departments and branches need to strengthen state management; there should be sanctions to force enterprises to operate in industrial zones.

A corner of Nam Cam Industrial Park. Photo courtesy

After listening to the opinions of the delegates, concluding the working session, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Thai Thanh Quy highly appreciated the results achieved and acknowledged the efforts of the Industry and Trade sector in the past time. "However, there is a lack of large projects and strategic investors to lead the development of other sectors. The methods and ways of calling for investors still have limitations, so we should not sit and wait but roll up our sleeves to implement. The Department of Industry and Trade needs to change its thinking, working methods, and advise the province to effectively attract investment in the industrial sector," the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee suggested.

Produced at Nam Giang Industrial Park (Nam Dan). Photo: Viet Phuong

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also requested the Department of Industry and Trade to pay attention to advising the Provincial People's Committee to resolve violations of hydropower plants during operation; research renewable energy planning...

In the coming time, it is recommended that the Industry and Trade sector review and evaluate planning targets; At the same time, prepare to evaluate the term and build a development scenario for the sector in the 2020 - 2025 term.

Regarding the proposals of the Department of Industry and Trade, the provincial leaders acknowledged the opinions and requested relevant departments and branches to review and consider for handling.