Minister Nguyen Chi Dung: Nghe An must develop strongly to lead and dominate the entire region.

Continuing the visit and working session in Nghe An, on the afternoon of July 25, the working delegation of the Ministry of Planning and Investment led by comrade Nguyen Chi Dung - Member of the Party Central Committee, Minister had a working session with the leaders of Nghe An province to urge and remove difficulties for production and business, and promote the disbursement of public investment capital in 2020.

Working with the delegation on the side of Nghe An province were comrades: Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; comrades in the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, representatives of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation and leaders of departments and branches. Photo: Pham Bang

HIGH DISBURSEMENT RATE OF PUBLIC INVESTMENT CAPITAL

Reporting to the working delegation, comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee said that in the first 7 months of the year, the province has made efforts and focused on drastic direction to implement the "dual goal" of both preventing and fighting the epidemic and recovering and developing the socio-economy.

Nghe An is a large locality with a large population and a large number of workers returning from abroad. Following the Central Government's direction, the province has seriously and correctly implemented the direction. Therefore, the province's Covid-19 prevention and control results have been good, with no cases of Covid-19 infection. The province has quarantined about 13,000 people. In addition, about 75 billion VND has been mobilized from the people for epidemic prevention and control.

Despite many difficulties, Nghe An's growth rate in the first 6 months of 2020 reached 2.69%, among the top in the country. Agricultural production still maintained a growth rate of 4.98%, ensuring stable life in rural areas. Budget revenue for the first 7 months is estimated at 8,348.9 billion VND, reaching 54.9% of the estimate and equal to 93.9% compared to the same period in 2019.

Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee reported on the socio-economic situation and results of public investment disbursement. Photo: Thanh Duy

In addition, the fields of culture, education, health, and social security are guaranteed. Implementing Resolution 42 of the Government, the province has supported 3 target groups with about 528,000 people, with an amount of 536 billion VND. The national defense and security situation in the area is stable.

Regarding the disbursement of public investment capital, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee said that according to the data reported by the Ministry of Finance to the Government, by July 20, Nghe An had disbursed 3,666 billion VND/5,697 billion VND, equivalent to 64%. This is a positive result for the province. To achieve that result, there was timely attention and guidance from the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

The province will strive to disburse 100% of public investment capital in 2020, resolutely transferring capital to projects with disbursement results that do not achieve results. With that spirit, Nghe An hopes that the Ministry of Planning and Investment will pay attention to allocating capital to implement key projects.

STRIVE FOR FAST AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Regarding the general goal for the next term, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee said that Nghe An is determined to set a goal of achieving breakthrough growth in the next term, by mobilizing internal strength, attracting external resources, focusing resources for rapid and sustainable development, soon turning Nghe An into a fairly good province as Uncle Ho wished and a connecting center of the North Central region.

Cua Hoi Bridge crosses Lam River connecting Northern Nghe An and Southern Ha Tinh. Photo: Thanh Duy

Regarding specific targets, Nghe An strives to achieve the target of maintaining a growth rate of 9.5-10.5%. Average income per capita reaches 83 million VND/year. Budget revenue reaches 26,000 - 30,000 billion VND; Nghe An strives for the highest level to achieve the goals and targets in socio-economic development.

The province is also focusing on development in 3 key areas: Dong Hoi (Hoang Mai) linked with Nghi Son (Thanh Hoa) in the South Thanh - North Nghe connection; North Nghe An - South Ha Tinh connected by Cua Hoi bridge; West Nghe An region develops sustainably, ensuring border security.

The province also identified three main breakthroughs to remove bottlenecks in administrative reform, create human resources, attract Nghe An people to focus on developing the province and build infrastructure.

In that spirit, in addition to the general support as prescribed, Nghe An hopes that the Ministry of Planning and Investment will pay attention to supporting more public investment capital to help Nghe An complete its infrastructure. The province has determined that in the coming term, the province will invest with focus, key points, concentrating on works and projects that create momentum for socio-economic development.

Members of the working delegation of the Ministry of Planning and Investment give their opinions on the province's development orientation. Photo: Thanh Duy

Emphasizing specific solutions, comrade Nguyen Duc Trung said that Nghe An is very concerned about the prevention and control of the Covid-19 epidemic with the viewpoint of not being subjective or negligent. At the same time, it continues to focus on removing obstacles and difficulties to promote production, focus on administrative reform, improve the investment environment, and attract investment.

At the same time, strictly manage budget revenue and expenditure; continue to review to ensure that budget revenue results reach the maximum level according to the target assigned by the Provincial People's Council. At the same time, review and strictly control expenditures, implement 10% savings, and cut unnecessary expenses.

Continue to ensure social security, pay attention to stabilizing people's lives, especially creating jobs for workers who have just returned from abroad. Continue to ensure national defense and security in the area. Focus on organizing the 19th Provincial Party Congress well, towards the 13th National Party Congress.

At the meeting, comrade Nguyen Duc Trung proposed that the Ministry of Planning and Investment allocate capital for the remaining part of the coastal route Nghi Son (Thanh Hoa) - Cua Lo (Nghe An). If supported by the Central Government, the Government, and the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the province will include it in the resolution to implement and complete this coastal route, creating new development space for the province. At the same time, support capital for phase 2 of the Vinh - Cua Lo Boulevard Project; allocate counterpart capital for the project on Vinh urban development adapting to climate change.

NGHE AN NEEDS NEW THINKING, NEW VISION

Concluding the working session, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung acknowledged Nghe An's great efforts in socio-economic development, especially in terms of growth rate, which is quite good compared to the whole country.

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung highly appreciated the results of public investment disbursement in Nghe An province. Photo: Pham Bang

Regarding the results of public investment disbursement, the Minister of Planning and Investment said that Nghe An certainly has certain lessons to learn to achieve good results in public investment disbursement. The province needs to evaluate so that it can be replicated in other provinces and cities.

However, comrade Nguyen Chi Dung also noted that the province not only disburses public investment capital but also needs to focus on removing difficulties and bottlenecks to speed up the disbursement of social capital, private capital and FDI projects to contribute to growth.

“Nghe An must have strong, drastic solutions, with a spirit of synchronization and determination, enhance the responsibility of leaders, establish a working group to inspect, urge, and remove difficulties for each program, each capital source, and each project. Timely transfer capital between sectors and localities to fully and effectively disburse this capital source.”

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung

Regarding Nghe An’s orientation in the coming time, the Minister of Planning and Investment frankly pointed out that the province has not yet seen any breakthrough and bold thinking. The province needs to untie its thinking, have a new vision, from which it will have new opportunities and new steps of development; otherwise, it will not be able to fully exploit its potential and advantages.

Comrade Nguyen Chi Dung said that a very important task of the province is to establish a plan and arrange a reasonable development space. The province should choose to follow the path of high-efficiency agriculture, associated with deep processing and consumption markets, and should not just pursue output. At the same time, immediately switch to organic agriculture.

Delegates pressed the button to start construction of the coastal road project on the morning of July 25. Photo: Thanh Duy

Nghe An also needs to focus resources on the eastern region of the province to accelerate development and growth. The western region should not focus on investing in large projects, but should focus on developing the agricultural sector and paying attention to social security.

Assessing that Nghe An has many conditions to become the center of the region, comrade Nguyen Chi Dung emphasized that Nghe An must connect North Ha Tinh and South Thanh Hoa with the view of supporting and taking advantage of each other's advantages.

"Nghe An is converging many good conditions, is a land of talented people. Nghe An must confidently develop even more strongly, becoming a real center of the North Central region, with the nature of spreading, leading and dominating the whole region"

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung

Given that there is currently a wave of investment shifting to Vietnam, Nghe An must prepare infrastructure, land, and human resources to attract the most feasible projects. The Ministry of Planning and Investment will support the province in attracting strategic, high-tech investors.

At the meeting, the Minister of Planning and Investment also noted two issues. That is, the province must strictly manage, use land resources economically and effectively; allocate land in accordance with the field, project, investment capacity, and contribution of investors. Turn it into a resource for development.

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung and the delegation of the Ministry of Planning and Investment donated 200 million VND to Nghe An province to the "Repaying gratitude" Fund. Photo: Pham Bang

Nghe An has registered projects with large scale and capital but not implemented. Therefore, it is necessary to review and consider revoking these projects in a resolute spirit, in accordance with the law. From there, open up opportunities for other investors, not allowing the situation of "enclosing the land with corrugated iron", not creating value.

Regarding Nghe An's recommendations, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung agreed in principle and will consider making specific decisions.

Speaking at the meeting, Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee thanked the Minister of Planning and Investment and the members of the delegation for their close attention. These are important orientations to help Nghe An shape its development strategy in the coming time.

Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee hopes that the Ministry of Planning and Investment will continue to pay attention to and help Nghe An in allocating capital to implement key projects. Photo: Thanh Duy

In addition to the province's efforts, comrade Thai Thanh Quy also hopes that the Ministry of Planning and Investment will continue to pay attention and help Nghe An to have projects that create motivation and strategy for the goal of socio-economic development and improving people's lives. At the same time, pay attention to allocating capital for the province to implement important projects to help the province develop faster and more sustainably.

Pham Bang - Thanh Duy