The Prime Minister works with provinces and cities of the Southern key economic region

By tainguyenmoitruong.vn - 30/05/2020

(Chinhphu.vn) - This morning (May 30), in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired working with provinces and cities of the Southern key economic region.

Also attending were Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hòa Bình, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Phạm Bình Minh, Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng, leaders of several ministries and departments, eight provinces and cities of the Southern Key Economic Region, businesses, associations, experts, and more.

In his opening speech, referring to the reasons behind the initial important victory in the fight against COVID-19, the Prime Minister emphasized that we have made timely and proactive decisions. At the same time, we have pursued dual goals: resolutely fighting the epidemic, protecting people's health, and preventing economic collapse. As a result, in the context of the global economic recession, Vietnam's economy still grew by about 4% in the first quarter, and the situation improved in May.

With the important role of the Southern Key Economic Region, accounting for 42% of the country's GDP and 42% of budget revenue, the Prime Minister asked localities in the region to contribute their heartfelt opinions so that the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers, ministries, and departments can make the right decisions and find better ways to proceed. Besides, the Prime Minister also hoped that scientists and businesses would offer suggestions to guide development, policies, and practical measures with a scientific basis, "a policy that is out of touch with reality cannot succeed."

Pointing out that Vietnam has an important foundation for development, such as maintaining macroeconomic stability and major economic balances and ensuring social security, the Prime Minister emphasized that we are focusing our efforts to overcome difficulties, especially building a vision of a prosperous Vietnam by 2045. Therefore, at this conference, the Prime Minister "eagerly hopes for discussions on what the Southern Key Economic Region must do to proactively develop."

The Prime Minister cited a recent assessment by the World Bank (WB) that Vietnam is at a crossroads as traditional growth drivers gradually weaken. To achieve the goal of a high-income economy by 2045, the WB suggested a development model based on productivity combined with innovation, balanced development, and efficient allocation of private and state capital, human resources, and natural capital. Vietnam needs to focus on dynamism for businesses, improve the efficiency and sustainability of infrastructure, enhance the quality of education and vocational training, and effectively manage resources.

In the context of negative global economic growth, Vietnam must strive harder. The Prime Minister raised the issue of whether the eight provinces and cities of the Southern Key Economic Region, with their dynamism and potential, can strive to exceed or meet the targets set by the state.

The Prime Minister also requested the delegates to propose solutions to best implement policies such as disbursing public investment funds, especially the support packages issued by the government, and measures to remove difficulties, obstacles, and barriers for people and businesses, ensuring smooth socio-economic activities, significantly improving the business investment environment, and enhancing local competitiveness, particularly by utilizing resources for infrastructure development.

Localities need to have measures to attract new investment flows that are shifting, and if we have good industrial zones, good human resources, and good infrastructure, it will be an opportunity.

The delegates need to propose solutions to better exploit and promote new growth drivers to replace and offset the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Do the provinces in the Southern Key Economic Region disburse 100% of the basic construction capital?" the Prime Minister clarified, "Do the comrades commit to this?" In addition, solutions for private economic development, digital economy development, and new business models, domestic demand stimulation, and export promotion were needed. "We will discuss solutions to attract stronger foreign investment in the context of capital flow shifts," the Prime Minister reiterated, "What proposals and breakthrough policies do you have to mobilize resources for infrastructure development, attract investment into economic zones, industrial zones, and urban areas."

Requesting the delegates to propose mechanisms and policies for connecting the eight provinces and cities in the region, the Prime Minister emphasized the spirit of listening to make decisions closer to reality and facilitate development.

Earlier, the Prime Minister inspected the Cái Mép - Thị Vải port area, Phú Mỹ Town, Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu, the Phước An Bridge project, and visited Hyosung Company (Korea) with a total investment of $1.35 billion, producing chemicals.

According to the Prime Minister, inspecting the infrastructure to serve the region's development, including port systems, logistics, and the transportation system in the Đồng Nai and Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu areas, affirmed that "our logistics and transportation system must be efficient to reduce production costs because connectivity is extremely important."