Nghe An's economy in 2023 tends to recover positively with many bright spots.

Attending the meeting were comrades: Nguyen Van Thong - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Hoang Nghia Hieu - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; representatives of leaders of Central Party Committees, comrades of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, leaders of departments and branches.

TOTAL PROVINCIAL PRODUCT INCREASED 7.14%

At the meeting, the Provincial Party Standing Committee heard reports on the socio-economic situation, budget, administrative reform, public investment in 2023 and directions, tasks and plans for 2024.

According to the report of the Party Committee of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee, in 2023, despite many difficulties and challenges, the province's socio-economic situation has had very positive changes. Nghe An achieved 24/28 main targets.

In economic development, although facing more difficulties than previous years, there is generally a positive recovery trend, including some notable bright spots.

According to the official announcement of the General Statistics Office, the growth rate of gross regional domestic product (GRDP) in 2023 is estimated at 7.14%; and according to the Nghe An Tax Department, this year's budget revenue is estimated at 18,000 to 18,500 billion VND.

Investment attraction and export turnover continue to be bright spots. As of November 20, 2023, the total newly granted and increased investment capital is over 46 trillion VND, 1.38 times higher than the target set for 2023 (32,000 - 35,000 billion VND); the number of newly granted projects increased by 13%, the total newly registered capital is 1.4 times higher than the same period in 2022.

In particular, in 2023, Nghe An province will continue to be in the top 10 localities attracting the largest FDI investment in the country, reaching 1.41 billion USD so far, estimated to reach 1.5 billion USD this year.

Total export turnover is estimated at 2.88 billion USD, an increase of 13.52% compared to 2022. This is the third year exceeding the target of the Resolution of the 19th Provincial Party Congress.

The new rural development program continues to receive attention and direction. It is expected that in 2023, there will be 10 more communes meeting new rural standards, 35 communes meeting advanced new rural standards, 06 communes meeting model new rural standards; 01 district (Hung Nguyen) will complete meeting new rural standards.

The fields of education, health, labor, employment, culture, sports and social security continued to receive attention and direction and achieved positive results. Administrative reform was resolutely directed and had changes.

National defense and security continued to be firmly consolidated, social order and safety were ensured. Foreign affairs activities were vigorously carried out, achieving many positive results.

At the meeting, regarding the socio-economic situation, comrades in the Provincial Party Standing Committee, the Provincial Party Standing Committee and a number of departments and branches discussed, analyzed and clarified the implementation of goals and targets.

Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Nguyen Van Thong proposed to analyze and clarify further the implementation of total social investment capital.

Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Hoang Nghia Hieu suggested that in 2024, it is necessary to pay attention and have a methodical strategy right from the beginning of the year regarding site clearance and handling of basic construction procedures to soon bring public investment capital into the economy; at the same time, there should be a methodical solution to prevent tax arrears.

Speaking at the meeting, Comrade Vo Thi Minh Sinh - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province proposed to add a task in 2024, which is to proceed with compensation and site clearance for the National Highway 1 expansion project through the province after the National Assembly agreed to add 1,275 billion VND for investment spending for Nghe An province from the increased central budget revenue in 2022 at the recent 6th Session; at the same time, there is a plan to take care of Tet for the poor in 2024.

The Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province also suggested that after 10 years of organizing the Tet for the Poor Program, it is necessary to re-evaluate and possibly consider new support directions, such as focusing on housing and livelihoods for poor households.

At the meeting, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province Nguyen Duc Trung clearly analyzed the difficulties and challenges in implementing economic targets, such as growth rate, budget revenue in 2023, per capita income and predicted that implementing these goals for the entire term will be difficult.

In addition, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also clearly analyzed the reasons why FDI capital is actively attracted but budget revenue has not increased. Accordingly, FDI capital has not immediately impacted the economy but needs time to "permeate", that is, disburse investment to put into production; at the same time, in the beginning, FDI projects are also enjoying incentives according to regulations.

The head of the Provincial People's Committee also acknowledged that the administrative reform work of the province in recent times, especially since the establishment of the Provincial Administrative Reform Steering Committee headed by the Provincial Party Secretary, has had clear changes, especially in implementing the task of "transferring people where administrative reform has not changed". The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also hopes that the Provincial Party Standing Committee will continue to support this work so that administrative reform work continues to achieve the set goals.

Regarding the key tasks in 2024, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee said that in December 2023, he will focus on reporting to the Provincial Party Standing Committee on a draft project on specific mechanisms and policies to implement Resolution No. 39-NQ/TW of the Politburo, as a basis for completing the project to submit to the Government and the National Assembly.

Regarding economic development, comrade Nguyen Duc Trung also emphasized that the solution is to carry out well the site clearance work not only for public investment projects, but also for industrial park infrastructure projects: Tho Loc (VSIP Nghe An II) and Hoang Mai II; focusing on key strategic projects such as Cua Lo deep-water seaport and upgrading and expanding Vinh international airport; Quynh Lap LNG power project in Hoang Mai town.

Regarding the settlement of compensation for site clearance for the project to expand National Highway 1A through the province after the National Assembly agreed to add 1,275 billion VND in investment for Nghe An province, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee said that he had agreed to report to the Provincial People's Council for approval; on that basis, the Provincial People's Committee together with relevant sectors and localities will establish a steering committee or working group to implement in 2024.

Regarding the proposal for a new orientation for the Tet For the Poor Program, the head of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee requested the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An Province to have a separate thematic report.

CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT THE MOTTO "FLEXIBLE, PROACTIVE, FOCUSED, AND KEY".

Concluding this content, Nghe An Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy assessed that in the difficult context, the province has made outstanding efforts in implementing socio-economic development tasks in 2023.

In 2024, to achieve the growth target of 9-10% in the context of extremely difficult forecasts, the Provincial Party Secretary requested the entire political system to concentrate highly, especially the specialized agencies of the Provincial People's Committee to continue to effectively implement the motto of flexible, focused, key and drastic management, direction and leadership.

The Provincial Party Secretary especially noted that in leadership and direction, there will certainly be different views and thoughts, so it is necessary to find constructive solutions, unite, join hands to focus on leadership and direction to develop the economy, society, and ensure good national defense and security.

The Provincial Party Secretary also noted important tasks, which need to be focused on so that by the 2024 regular mid-year session (in May and June 2024) of the National Assembly, a specific mechanism and policy must be presented to implement Resolution No. 39-NQ/TW of the Politburo on Nghe An; submit to the National Assembly Standing Committee for approval the Project to expand the administrative boundaries of Vinh city; start construction of Cua Lo deep-water port; focus on completing a series of traffic infrastructure projects including: Coastal road, Vinh - Cua Lo boulevard, N5 road extension connecting to Ho Chi Minh road through Tan Ky.

Regarding the upgrading and expansion of Vinh International Airport, the province needs to prepare well so that when the Politburo issues a policy on airport socialization, it can immediately get involved.

The head of the Provincial Party Committee also requested to continue focusing on improving the investment and business environment. Accordingly, in addition to ensuring infrastructure, it is necessary to continue to drastically reform administration. Where department-level officials have negative public opinion, the leaders of that unit need to proactively transfer them immediately, without waiting for the Provincial Steering Committee for Administrative Reform to remind them.

In addition to taking care of economic development, ensuring national defense and security, the Provincial Party Secretary requested to continue to do well in social security work, especially effectively implementing the Program to mobilize and support the construction and repair of houses for the poor and those with housing difficulties. The goal is to complete it before the 20th Provincial Party Congress, term 2025 - 2030.

Agreeing with the exchanges and information of the leaders of the Party Committee of the Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial Party Secretary proposed to add the task of implementing compensation and site clearance for National Highway 1A, and at the same time, to soon have capital to implement the Nam Mo River embankment, through blocks 4 and 5, Muong Xen town, Ky Son district, after the National Assembly agreed to allocate capital.

Also in the working program, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee gave opinions on the policy of building a Resolution of the Provincial People's Council "Regulating policies to support the training of Lao students studying abroad under the agreement on educational and training cooperation between Nghe An and Lao provinces studying at educational and training institutions in the province; listened to and gave opinions on the draft Resolution of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee on strengthening the leadership and direction of drug prevention and control work in the province, aiming to move Nghe An out of the key and complicated drug-related areas; gave opinions on the program and content of the regular year-end meeting of the Provincial People's Council.

Also at this session, the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee reviewed and concluded a number of contents on inspection, supervision and Party discipline work. In particular, it requested the Standing Committee of the Vinh University Party Committee, the Nghe An Newspaper Party Committee and relevant individuals to seriously review and develop a plan to thoroughly overcome shortcomings and violations that have been concluded through inspection when there are signs of violations. At the same time, the Provincial Party Committee Inspection Committee was assigned to regularly monitor and supervise the overcoming of shortcomings of collectives and individuals.

Previously, the Provincial Party Committee's Inspection Commission reviewed and handled according to its authority comrade Nguyen Ngoc Hien - Party Committee Secretary, Chairman of the University Council and comrade Nguyen Huy Bang - Deputy Party Committee Secretary, Principal of Vinh University for shortcomings and violations in implementing Party regulations, working regulations and assigned duties and tasks.