Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Thai Thanh Quy: It is necessary to promote investment attraction and sustainable poverty reduction

Scene of the afternoon working session on November 22. Photo: My Nga

As of November 15, 2018, the Provincial People's Committee has approved investment policies for 100 projects with a capital of VND 8,789.58 billion; adjusted 7 projects with an increased capital of VND 704 billion. The total newly granted and increased capital is VND 9,493.58 billion (accounting for 25.3%).

Director of the Department of Planning and Investment Nguyen Van Do reported on the results of investment promotion and foreign economic development. Photo: My Nga

Foreign affairs and international cooperation activities have also achieved many results. There are 4 ODA projects negotiated and signed agreements with a total investment capital of 78.18 million USD; 32 programs, projects and non-projects implemented in Nghe An province with a total committed aid value of 5,211,027 USD.

In the first 10 months of 2018, the total export turnover of the whole province is estimated at 888.64 million USD, of which goods export is estimated at 617 million USD; total import turnover is 469.74 million USD, down 2.54% over the same period.

However, delegates frankly pointed out the remaining problems, especially some large-scale projects that were approved for investment in 2018 were implemented slower than expected due to investment procedures, especially issues related to land.

Investment promotion activities are mainly focused on the stages before investment licensing, while activities to support investors when projects are deployed and put into operation are limited. In addition, the effectiveness of investment attraction has not met the requirements, investment projects in economic zones (EZs) and industrial parks (IPs), projects using modern technology, high technology and projects in industrial - urban infrastructure, education and training, health care and agriculture are not many.

Concluding this content, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Thai Thanh Quy requested departments and branches to clarify the slow disbursement progress, the responsibilities of collectives and individuals, and propose reasonable solutions.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee proposed to focus on promoting administrative reform, especially administrative procedures in the fields of investment, construction and land; focus on removing difficulties and obstacles, speeding up the progress of licensed projects, especially key investment projects; continue to promote investment promotion activities, especially on-site investment promotion activities.

Creating cohesion between levels and sectors to reduce poverty sustainably

Program 135 in the past 3 years (2016-2018) has contributed to gradually solving the problem with focus and key points, creating positive changes.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Minh Thong spoke at the conference. Photo: My Nga

Infrastructure in poor and disadvantaged districts and communes, traffic works, irrigation, domestic water, schools have promoted investment efficiency; production activities have been promoted, contributing to stabilizing people's lives, ensuring social security, and reducing poverty. If in 2016, the poverty rate in the whole province was 12.10%, equivalent to 95,205 households; the number of near-poor households was 10.23%, equivalent to 80,464 households, then by the end of 2017, the whole province had 7.54% poor households, an average annual decrease of 2.28%.

Appreciating the positive aspects and aiming to improve the effectiveness of the implementation of Program 135, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Thai Thanh Quy requested that local Party committees and authorities pay attention, direct in a focused and drastic manner; strengthen the close connection between provincial departments and branches and district and commune levels in organizing the implementation of hunger eradication and poverty reduction programs and projects.

The head of the provincial People's Committee also emphasized the need to promote Program 135 to guide people to create sustainable livelihoods and reduce poverty. One of these is to propagate to change the mindset of waiting and relying on a part of the people. This is an issue for local authorities and Party committees.

At the meeting, members also heard reports on the implementation of the 2018 public investment plan, the 2019 public investment plan and the Draft Resolution of the Provincial People's Council on the 2019 public investment plan; Draft Project to merge the Provincial Investment Promotion and Support Center, Enterprise Support and Development Center, Tourism Promotion Center and Trade Promotion Center into a unified unit.