Prime Minister: The Northern Key Economic Zone must do more and be clearer

On the morning of June 25, in Hung Yen, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired the Conference on the development of the Northern Key Economic Zone. This is a conference to discuss solutions to promote regional development and fulfill the goals of the regional development plan.

Advantages of the Northern Key Economic Zone

In his opening speech at the conference, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc emphasized the role of key economic zones, which are important driving forces for the country's economic development. Therefore, organizing conferences to develop each key economic zone to review the implementation of tasks and propose new solutions to strongly develop the zone is an urgent requirement.

Assessing the development advantages of the Northern key economic region, the Prime Minister said that the region has a clear advantage over other economic regions, especially in infrastructure with important changes, creating changes for other sectors. GDP per capita is 1.85 times higher than the national average. Notably, 7/7 provinces and cities in the region have budget adjustments to the Central Government. Nearly 80% of communes meet new rural standards and the poverty rate is the lowest in the country, only 2% according to multidimensional poverty standards.

However, the Prime Minister also pointed out the shortcomings and limitations of the region, which are limited productivity, quality and efficiency. The connection between localities in the region is still formal and not substantial; the regional development policy mechanism is still inadequate, lacking breakthroughs, and has not solved the common problems of the region such as promoting investment, trade, tourism, environment, urban development, and ensuring security and order.

The Prime Minister also pointed out that the investment and business environment and competitiveness are not uniform, and the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) of localities in the region has large differences (Quang Ninh is 1st, Hanoi is 9th, Vinh Phuc is 13th, Bac Ninh is 15th, Hai Phong is 16th, Hai Duong is 55th, Hung Yen is 58th).

With the desire to promote the strong development of the Northern key economic region, even breakthrough development, the Prime Minister requested ministries, branches and localities to propose innovations in mechanisms and policies on investment, land, science and technology; innovation in institutions and regional coordination mechanisms such as: establishing a Coordination Team for the development of key economic regions; Steering Committee of the Council of key economic regions...

Along with that is the assessment of the implementation of mechanisms and policies on planning, traffic development, cultural development, tourism, solid waste management, water supply... of the region, and the issues raised.

Need new steps

The Prime Minister said that "cWe have made progress in contributing to the whole country, in terms of budget revenue and structural transformation, but we want the region to do more, more clearly, on a larger scale to contribute to the country better. Especially from now until 2020, you comrades must contribute more clearly in the context of Party Congresses at all levels and towards the 13th National Congress of the Party. The strong development of this region is a lesson that affirms our good guidelines and policies.

To do that, we must listen, promptly overcome shortcomings and weaknesses, especially human resource issues, and shift the structure within the industry group for the best development."

The Prime Minister and delegates visited the booth displaying typical products.

The Northern Key Economic Zone includes 7 provinces and cities: Hanoi, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Hai Duong, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen and Vinh Phuc. In 2014, the Prime Minister approved the Master Plan for Socio-Economic Development of the Northern Key Economic Zone to 2020, with a vision to 2030, which identifies the Northern Key Economic Zone as the political, economic, cultural and scientific-technical center of the country, the focal point of national resources and vitality, the integration and trade area of ​​the whole country with the region and internationally.

According to the report of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, up to now, the regional economic scale ranks second in the country with nearly 32% of GDP. The target by 2020 is that the average income per capita is estimated to reach 5,500 USD, the urbanization rate is from 50-57%.

The Northern Key Economic Zone has a modern and synchronous transport infrastructure with many highways connecting to the northern provinces, 3 airports: Noi Bai, Cat Bi, Van Don; and important seaports: Lach Huyen International Port and Cai Lan Port./.