Prime Minister: Special policies and solutions are needed in the new normal state

On the morning of July 2, the Government held an online conference with localities to assess the socio-economic situation in the first 6 months of the year; and deploy tasks for the last 6 months of 2020. In Hanoi, Comrade Nguyen Xuan Phuc - Politburo member, Prime Minister chaired the conference. Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu

At Nghe An bridge, comrades: Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Nguyen Xuan Son - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; comrades of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee: Cao Thi Hien - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, Le Hong Vinh - Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee co-chaired the conference. Also attending were comrades of the Vice Chairmen of the Provincial People's Council, Vice Chairmen of the Provincial People's Committee; members of the Provincial People's Committee; leaders of departments, branches and Chairmen of the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns. Photo: Thanh Duy

The country's GDP growth rate in the second quarter reached 0.36%, and the first 6 months of the year increased by 1.81%. This is the lowest growth rate in the past 10 years for our country. However, in the context of the global impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam is one of the few countries with positive growth.

In Nghe An, in the first 6 months of the year, the growth rate of gross domestic product (GRDP) is estimated to increase by 2.69%, of which the agriculture, forestry and fishery sector increased by 4.98%; the industry - construction sector increased by 5.11% (industry alone increased by only 1.58%, construction increased by 9.47%); the service sector increased by 0.2%; product tax minus product subsidy equaled 99.41% over the same period in 2019. The estimated budget revenue was more than 6,964.5 billion VND, reaching 45.8% of the estimate and equal to 94.4% over the same period in 2019.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, the Prime Minister emphasized that in the past 6 months, our country has had the right policies and drastic and synchronous direction. Especially with the support and determination of the Party Committee, government and people, Vietnam has promptly prevented and controlled the epidemic, creating an important premise for directing socio-economic development; maintaining national defense and security. The world highly appreciates the achievements of our country in controlling and directing the prevention and control of the epidemic.

“In the current context, the task of economic recovery and development has become more urgent than ever,” the Prime Minister emphasized and pointed out: “The conference determined the dual goal of not letting Covid-19 return to erase the achievements we have strived for, not letting the economy be too lenient and allowing the epidemic to affect people’s health; at the same time, the extremely important goal is to develop the socio-economy and ensure people’s lives.”

However, the forecast for the coming time is still difficult. To effectively enter the new normal state, the Prime Minister requested special mechanisms, policies and solutions.

Along with focusing on effectively implementing the Politburo's Conclusion and the National Assembly's Resolution, the Government, leaders of ministries, branches and localities continue to propose and contribute solutions to both prevent the epidemic from returning and quickly recover and strongly develop the socio-economy.

“Solidarity, cooperation, determination to overcome difficulties, creativity, and close supervision in direction and management are the overarching requirements,” the Prime Minister advised, pointing out eight conference contents that need to be discussed and solutions clarified.

The Prime Minister delivered the opening speech at the conference. Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu

First of all, the issue of macroeconomics, especially growth. Comparing Vietnam's growth engine to a three-horse carriage consisting of "investment, export and consumption", the Prime Minister suggested that this conference should set out solutions to increase these driving forces in order to achieve the highest growth target.

In addition, the conference needs to discuss issues of managing macroeconomic policy tools, especially fiscal and monetary policies to stimulate demand and promote growth; speed up disbursement of public investment capital because it has not yet met the requirements (disbursement results in the first 6 months of the year increased but only reached 33% of the yearly plan, ODA capital disbursement was also very low).

The Head of Government also proposed that there must be specific solutions to expand the international market, promote the domestic market, and stimulate the domestic market in the context of a shrinking international market and decreasing domestic demand.

In particular, all levels and sectors must focus on reviewing and perfecting legal regulations and cutting administrative procedures to create convenience and reduce costs for people and businesses.

Delegates attending the conference at the Nghe An province bridge. Photo: Thanh Duy

The spirit is to have an attitude of serving the people, for the development of enterprises, economic types, finding ways to support enterprises, cooperatives, individual households, craft villages, developing products... "Such an atmosphere creates conditions for development", the Prime Minister said and firmly requested "not to make things difficult for investors, enterprises, people", not to have "your rights, my rights" in carrying out administrative procedures.

In addition, the conference also needs to discuss and find solutions to direct the development of a number of new economic sectors such as: night-time economy, digital economy, urban economy, strong development of social housing; strongly attract social investment, private investment, foreign direct investment (FDI), and promote the role of localities.

Through the practical implementation of tasks, the head of the Government requested ministries, branches and localities to propose and recommend specific mechanisms and policies to promote and innovate production and business methods, develop the economy, especially to restore and develop a number of key economic sectors and fields.

At the conference, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung briefly reported on the following contents: The implementation of Resolution No. 01/NQ-CP, Resolution 42/NQ-CP, Resolution 84/NQ-CP, Directive 11/CT-TTg; the socio-economic situation in the first 6 months of the year and solutions for socio-economic development in the last 6 months of 2020. The implementation of Resolution No. 02/NQ-CP of the Government on key tasks and solutions to improve the business environment and enhance national competitiveness.

Minister and Head of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung briefly reported on the following contents: Review of the direction and administration of the Government and the Prime Minister in the first 6 months of 2020. Administrative procedure reform, e-Government development and task implementation. Some difficulties in implementing policies to remove difficulties for production and business.

Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung reported on the implementation of the social security package and social policy implementation in the last 6 months of the year.

Minister of Finance Dinh Tien Dung reported on the implementation of the state budget in the first 6 months of the year and the tasks for the last 6 months of the year. Several localities spoke at the conference.