Promoting the glorious 71-year tradition of the Industry and Trade sector

On October 13, 1945, just one month after the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was born, President Ho Chi Minh wrote a letter to the Vietnamese Industry and Commerce sector. Then, on May 14, 1951, in response to the demands of history, he signed Decree 21 to change the name of the Ministry of Economy to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. From here, the Vietnamese Industry and Trade sector in general and the Nghe An Industry and Trade sector in particular began to open their glorious history.

Industrial growth boosts the entire economy

2021 and the first quarter of 2022 are of special importance, being the initial period of implementing the Resolution of the Party Congresses at all levels for the 2020-2025 term and the 5-year Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2021-2025. Despite facing many difficulties and challenges, with the attention and direction of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Council, the Provincial People's Committee, the coordination of all levels, sectors and localities in drastically implementing political tasks, especially grasping, assessing, proposing and implementing solutions to respond to and prevent the Covid-19 pandemic; the efforts of enterprises and production and business units in the area in 2021 and the first quarter of 2022,industrial and commercial activitiesachieve positive results.

Thai canned food company Royal Foods invests in Nam Cam Industrial Park. Photo: Thu Huyen

In 2021, the industrial production index increased by 16.01% compared to 2020, of which: Production and distribution of electricity, gas, hot water, steam and air conditioning increased by 21%; processing and manufacturing industry increased by 15.69%; mining industry increased by 14.73%; water supply, waste and wastewater management and treatment decreased by 1.83%. The industrial production value in the first 3 months of 2022 reached about 23,270 billion VND, up 17% compared to 2021, reaching 25.16% of the plan.

The province's key industrial projects are invested and promoted effectively. The infrastructure system of the provinceSoutheast Economic Zonehave been invested in construction. In the Economic Zone, there are currently 07 industrial parks, of which Nam Cam Industrial Park has basically completed infrastructure and filled the project; VSIP Nghe An Industrial Park invested by VSIP Nghe An Company Limited is completing technical infrastructure and has 12 projects that have been granted Investment Certificates (including 4 foreign projects); Hoang Mai I Industrial Park has basically completed site clearance, leveling and construction of some infrastructure items, attracting 6 investment projects; Hermajai Industrial Park: WHA Hemaraj 1 Industrial Park Nghe An has completed site clearance and completed the infrastructure system of 143.5 hectares; Dong Hoi Industrial Park: Has attracted investment in some large projects such as: Hoa Sen Factory, Hai Chau Confectionery Factory,... The growth of industrial activities has promoted the economy of the whole industry, including export and trade services.

Export turnover exceeded the target spectacularly

Over the past 2 years, the outbreak of the epidemic has caused fluctuations in the labor force, disrupting production; Input material prices have fluctuated continuously and are difficult to predict; Export transportation has been difficult, and shipping costs have increased dramatically, greatly affecting import and export activities.

During the difficult time of the epidemic, KiDo Vinh Company Limited (Do Luong Industrial Park) has abundant orders, ensuring jobs for workers. Photo: Thu Huyen

Overcoming that bumpy road, many businesses have made great efforts to achieve many outstanding results. The total import and export turnover in 2021 is estimated at over 3.36 billion USD. Of which, goods export reached 2.11 billion USD, up 76.04%, exceeding 132.2% of the annual plan - the highest ever and exceeding the target set by the Resolution of the 19th Provincial Party Congress. In the first quarter of 2022, goods export turnover continued to grow positively, reaching 544.8 million USD, up 28.1% over the same period last year.

The export market is diverse with more than 125 countries and territories in the world. Some new export markets in the year are: East Timor, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Marshall Islands, Luxembourg. The number of exporting enterprises increased with 270 enterprises in the province, including 188 domestic enterprises and 82 enterprises from other provinces participating in exporting goods of Nghe An province.

Huu Quan Graphics.

In 2021 many items haveexport turnoverGood growth, such as: Steel and steel of all kinds reached 514 million USD, up 157% over the same period last year; Cement reached 195.8 million USD, up 17.8%; Textiles and garments reached 410.7 million USD, up 38.1%; Electronic components reached 335.8 million USD, up more than 17 times compared to 2020; Wood and wood products reached 184.8 million USD, up 30.3%; Seafood reached 75 million USD, up 66.7%; Cassava and cassava products of all kinds reached 46.2 million USD, up 42% compared to 2020.

Promoting connection between supply and demand of goods

Another important highlight is commercial activities. Flexibly applying e-commerce along with traditional sales channels, the DepartmentNghe An Industry and Tradehas accompanied businesses to exploit domestic market opportunities well, speeding up the process of restoring production after a long period of being affected by the epidemic. The time of implementing anti-epidemic solutions and social isolation has caused disruptions in many supply chains of goods. Many agricultural products are harvested in the peak season with large output, but purchasing power is only focused on a number of groups of goods necessary for daily life and consumption, while other groups of goods are consumed slowly or are difficult to consume.

Faced with that reality, the Department of Industry and Trade has implemented many solutions to develop the market in the province, promote the circulation of goods, and enhance the connection between production and the market according to the supply chain to some localities. Goods suppliers, supermarkets, and agricultural product chains in the area have been connected. Some localities facing difficulties in consuming agricultural products have been resolved.

Working group of the Domestic Market Department and the Department of Industry and Trade work to connect product consumption at MM Mega Market supermarket. Photo: Thu Huyen

In order for the province's goods to reach the large market in Ho Chi Minh City, the Southern and Northern provinces, the Department promptly provides information on the supply of goods, especially agricultural products of the province to the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City, provinces, cities, associations, and enterprises to connect for consumption. Thereby, many enterprises and cooperatives provide products at stable prices to many provinces and cities in the country such as Nghia Dan oranges of the 1/5 Fruit Tree Agricultural Cooperative; Vinh oranges of Phu Quy Agricultural Farm Company; fish sauce of Van Phan Dien Chau Seafood Joint Stock Company; Thanh Chuong tea of ​​Thanh Duc Agricultural and Tea Processing Cooperative; tea products of Pu Mat Medicinal Materials Joint Stock Company, etc.

According to the leader of the Department of Industry and Trade, promoting the positive results in connecting supply and demand, these programs will be maintained, improved and constantly innovated by the Department of Industry and Trade in terms of organization methods to make support more and more effective. In particular, the focus will be shifted from traditional promotion to modern trade promotion through the application of information technology and digital transformation; from direct to online trade promotion. Promote the application and consumption of products through platforms such ase-commerce platformAlibaba.com wholesale, participate in promotion and sales through major Vietnamese e-commerce sites such as Shopee, Sendo, Tiki, Lazada, Voso, Postmart.

Unloading goods at Cua Lo port. Photo: Thu Huyen

In 2022, the Industry and Trade sector sets a target of industrial production value of VND 92,500 billion. Total retail sales of goods of VND 74,000 billion. Export turnover of enterprises in the province reaches 2,350 million USD, of which export turnover of goods is 2,000 million USD; total import turnover is 1,000 million USD. To achieve the set target, the sector will continue to synchronously and effectively implement tasks and solutions to remove difficulties in production and business, promote investment in the industry and trade sector. Focus on directing the implementation of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and the 19th Provincial Party Congress, the 5-year socio-economic development plan for the period 2021-2025.

“Promoting the glorious tradition of the Industry and Trade sector, in the coming time, we will focus on leadership and direction with the goal of developing industry and trade at a high speed; developing the industrial sector in a sustainable direction associated with environmental protection. Converting import and export activities towards official channels in accordance with international practices, improving quality, efficiency, competitiveness and proactively integrating into the international economy, creating strong changes in economic restructuring…” - Mr. Pham Van Hoa - Director of Nghe An Department of Industry and Trade emphasized.

In recognition of its achievements, over the past 71 years of development and growth, the industry has been honored to receive many noble titles from the Party and the State: Third-class Labor Medal for Nghe An Trade Sector (1983); Second-class Labor Medal for Nghe An Trade Sector (1996); First-class Labor Medal for Nghe An Provincial Department of Industry (2000); Third-class Independence Medal for Nghe An Provincial Department of Industry and Trade (2011); Emulation Flag of the Government; Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister and many Certificates of Merit from the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

In 2021 alone, 1 collective received the Government's Emulation Flag; 3 collectives received Certificates of Merit from the Minister of Industry and Trade and the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; 06 individuals were awarded Certificates of Merit by the Minister of Industry and Trade and the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.