The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested to promptly remove difficulties and improve the industrial production index.

On the morning of August 23, the Provincial People's Committee held a regular meeting in August to listen to and give opinions on many important issues. Comrades: Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Dinh Viet Hong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired the meeting. Attending the meeting were leaders of the provincial departments and branches. Photo: Thanh Duy

Industrial decline

In August, the Provincial People's Committee directed all sectors and levels to focus on organizing the simultaneous and comprehensive implementation of the 2019 plan's goals and tasks; proactively reviewing and developing specific growth scenarios for the last 6 months of the year for each sector, each field, and each key product to ensure the 2019 growth target according to the set plan.

Localities have focused on caring for and harvesting summer-autumn crops and preparing conditions for winter planting; focused on directing and implementing drastic measures to prevent and control African swine fever. The province has actively directed localities and units to strictly implement measures to prevent and control forest fires.

The trade and service sectors continue to achieve a fairly high growth rate. However, according to the Director of the Department of Planning and Investment, the industrial sector alone has very low growth compared to the same period last year. If September and the fourth quarter do not improve, it will be difficult to achieve this year's target.

Director of the Department of Industry and Trade Hoang Van Tam reports on solutions to remove difficulties for business growth. Photo: Thanh Duy

Specifically, the Industrial Production Index (IIP) in August 2019 increased by 5.04%, lower than the same period in 2018 (IIP in August 2018 increased by 16.33%). On average, in the first 8 months of 2019, IIP increased by only 6.44% (IIP in the first 8 months of 2018 increased by 17.96%).

The reason is that some key industrial products have low growth and decline due to the impact of trade policy between the US and China, leading to reduced consumption and large inventories, such as: Hoa Sen steel pipes decreased by 26.37%; fibers decreased by 22.31%; roofing sheets decreased by 19.14%.

Electricity production is estimated at 1,821.3 million kWh, down 9.22%; the reason for the decrease is that in June and July 2019, it was the peak of the dry season, the water flow in reservoirs was at a record low, so electricity production decreased sharply.

Discussing solutions for the industrial sector, Mr. Hoang Van Tam - Director of the Department of Industry and Trade said that he has worked with businesses with reduced products, especially with Hoa Sen Group to find solutions, including registering to work with the leaders of Hoa Sen Group to increase production targets for factories in Nghe An.

Budget revenue in the first 8 months of the year is estimated at nearly 9,864 billion VND. Accumulated in the first 8 months of 2019 (up to August 16, 2019), the province has newly granted (approved investment policy/issued investment registration certificates for 69 projects, with a total registered investment capital of nearly 7,028 billion VND; adjusted 5 projects with a total adjusted investment capital increase of more than 648 billion VND.

By August 16, 2019, business registration certificates had been issued to 1,145 enterprises, equal to 92.5% of the same period; the total registered capital of enterprises was nearly VND 8,581 billion. According to the announcement of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Nghe An's rate of online business registration applications was the highest in the country, reaching over 99%.

Find solutions to improve development index

Concluding the meeting, regarding the industrial sector, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Thai Thanh Quy emphasized that the province has identified 15 key industrial products that must strive to maintain production output without decreasing.

Therefore, leaders of the Department of Industry and Trade and related sectors must grasp information on the production of these products daily and weekly and report to provincial leaders; at the same time, grasp the progress of projects such as milk, fruit juice, etc. that are likely to go into production in the fourth quarter.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee concluded the content on socio-economic issues. Photo: Thanh Duy

Thereby, relevant sectors advise provincial leaders to have solutions to direct and promptly remove difficulties, in order to improve the Industrial Production Development Index, to contribute to the overall growth index of the province this year, striving to reach 9% or more.

Especially with Hoa Sen corrugated iron products, which have a great contribution to industrial growth, it is necessary to research and advise the provincial leaders to work with Hoa Sen Group, proposing to assign additional production targets to factories in Nghe An.

Regarding the agricultural sector, comrade Thai Thanh Quy suggested paying close attention to leadership and direction, striving to have 1 district and 39 communes reach the new rural finish line this year.

"We must regularly monitor and urge to resolve the issues for each district, even each commune," the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee clearly stated the guiding viewpoint; at the same time, he requested the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development as the standing agency to closely monitor and grasp the situation of each commune registered this year to advise the Provincial People's Committee to direct the districts.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Thai Thanh Quy listened to an introduction about the production process at Viet Home Stone JSC stone factory located in Nghia Long Small Industrial Park, Nghia Dan district. Photo: Thanh Duy

In addition, the agricultural sector has strengthened leadership and direction to prevent and control diseases on trees and animals; forest protection work, including research and consultation on launching a movement to promote the role of people in forest protection when Nghe An has a large forest area and a small forest ranger force; continued to convert crops and livestock; and prepared good plans to prevent and combat storms and floods.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also agreed on the policy of establishing a delegation to work in Japan to promote tourism - trade - attract investment in the spirit that the delegation must be streamlined and effective; review public investment projects, if by September any project is slow or does not disburse, capital will be transferred to another project; continue to carry out administrative reform well, strive to put the Provincial Public Administration Service Center into operation in September.

Comrade Vo Thi Minh Sinh - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Chairman of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee made recommendations through grasping public opinion. Photo: Thanh Duy

Regarding the issues, Comrade Vo Thi Minh Sinh - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Chairman of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee suggested that through grasping public opinion, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee has given specific instructions to the sectors, especially with the issues arising in the merger of blocks, hamlets, villages, and communes.

Accordingly, the Department of Home Affairs needs to review the issues arising in the process of merging hamlets and communes to advise the Provincial People's Committee and relevant sectors to meet to unify and have synchronous instructions and policies suitable to the conditions and characteristics of Nghe An province.