Nghe An: Strengthening international economic integration in all fields.

(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of September 14th, the People's Committee of Nghe An province held a meeting of the Steering Committee for the International Economic Integration Program of Nghe An province, aiming to assess the performance in the first eight months of the year and implement tasks for the last four months of 2016.

Comrade Le Xuan Dai – Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee – chaired the meeting.

According to the report of the Steering Committee for the International Economic Integration Program, in the first eight months of the year, provincial departments, agencies, and localities continued to strengthen the dissemination of information and legal documents on international economic integration. The review, supplementation, amendment, and repeal of policies and mechanisms in accordance with the commitments made upon joining the WTO and free trade agreements (FTAs) were carried out regularly.

Speaking at the meeting, Comrade Le Xuan Dai emphasized that the province's economic growth in the first eight months of the year was partly due to the international economic integration program that has been actively implemented by various sectors and localities.

In addition, state management and administrative reform have been given attention and directed by all levels and sectors, achieving many results. The development of technical infrastructure and the enhancement of provincial competitiveness have been emphasized and promoted.

Employment and labor issues, poverty reduction, and social security continue to be addressed by all sectors and levels of government. Efforts are being intensified to improve the quality of human resources, coupled with the application of scientific and technological advancements. Vocational training is being strongly shifted towards a supply-demand model, providing a skilled workforce with good health, discipline, industrial work ethic, and cultural awareness for both domestic and international markets.

Mr. Hoang Van Tam, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, reported on the implementation of the international economic integration program during the first eight months of the year and outlined directions for the remainder of the year; he also proposed that the Provincial People's Committee promptly establish a Provincial Steering Committee for International Integration.

However, there are still some limitations in directing, inspecting, and supervising the implementation of policies in some socio-economic fields, as well as in disseminating knowledge about international economic integration.

The tasks of the International Economic Integration program in the coming period will focus on the following: Continuing to implement the action programs of the Provincial People's Committee on a number of major policies and guidelines to ensure rapid and sustainable economic development when Vietnam is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

At the same time, strengthen the inter-sectoral steering committee on international integration; continue to implement tasks under the Nghe An province's foreign affairs program in 2016; research and develop a draft plan for the program of international economic integration in Nghe An province for the period 2017-2020, with a vision to 2025…

Businesses loading and unloading goods at Cua Lo Port (Illustrative photo: Quynh Lan)

At the meeting, delegates discussed solutions to improve the effectiveness of Nghe An province's international economic integration program in the coming period: Nghe An needs to exploit its comparative advantages to attract foreign investment; improve the quality of the workforce; focus on developing transportation infrastructure; in the agricultural sector, it needs to adjust planning, restructure crop patterns, and attract businesses to invest...

Overview of the working session

Concluding the conference, Comrade Le Xuan Dai – Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, emphasized: In the first eight months of the year, the province's economic growth achieved positive results, with the industrial production index estimated to increase by 9.9% compared to the same period last year, merchandise export turnover estimated at 332.8 million USD (an increase of 20% compared to the same period last year), import turnover estimated at 282.7 million USD (an increase of 31.6%); and budget revenue reaching 63.3% of the projected target. These results are partly due to the international economic integration program that has been actively implemented by various sectors and localities. However, the results of international integration activities in various fields and the mechanisms and policies to encourage businesses still have limitations…

Comrade Le Xuan Dai suggested that in the coming period: the Department of Foreign Affairs should coordinate with the Department of Industry and Trade to advise the Provincial People's Committee on the establishment of a Steering Committee for International Integration, along with the issuance of its operational regulations. At the same time, relevant departments, agencies, and localities need to strengthen communication within the business community to raise awareness among businesses and the public about the requirements, advantages, and difficulties of international integration in general and economic integration in particular.

In addition, it is necessary to promote the implementation of solutions such as: administrative reform, improving the investment environment, enhancing the competitiveness of businesses; paying attention to transportation infrastructure, vocational training, and linking it to market needs…

Dinh Nguyet