Chief of Office of Hanoi People's Committee and Spokesperson of Hanoi People's Committee Truong Viet Dung; Deputy Director in charge of Department of Information and Communications Nguyen Tien Sy co-chaired the press conference.

The press conference was held online from the City People's Committee to the People's Committees of 30 districts, towns and cities.

Scene of the press conference to inform about the socio-economic situation of Hanoi City in the second quarter of 2023.

Socio-economic situation in the first 6 months of the year

According to Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Planning and Investment Vu Duy Tuan, from the beginning of 2023, the world situation continues to fluctuate in a complex and unpredictable manner. The capital's economy is clearly affected, but still achieves important results in all aspects.

Total state budget revenue in the area was 220,121 billion VND, reaching 62.4% of the estimate, equal to 122.9% over the same period. Total local budget expenditure was 39,769 billion VND, reaching 37.8% of the estimate, equal to 126.8% over the same period.

Imports and exports declined due to the impact of the global economic downturn; export turnover in the first 6 months of the year reached 8,084 million USD, down 2.7% (same period increased 17.1%); import turnover in the first 6 months of the year reached 17,386 million USD, down 16.3% (same period increased 24.5%).

Consumer price index is under control; average CPI in the first 6 months of the year increased by 1.22% - lower than the same period (increased by 3.25%) and achieved the set target (below 4.5%).

GRDP in the first 6 months of 2023 increased by 5.97% - a fairly good increase in the context of the economy being doubly affected by the imbalance of supply and demand due to the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine and from the impact of tightening monetary policies of countries.

Regarding FDI attraction, the first 6 months of the year reached 2,265 million USD, leading the country and surpassing the results of 2022. Enterprises continued to develop with 15,618 newly established enterprises, an increase of 5%.

Economic sectors maintained growth. Tourism and passenger transport recovered strongly. Culture and society continued to develop. Cultural, sports and festival activities recovered strongly after the Covid-19 pandemic. The Hanoi sports delegation participating in the 32nd SEA Games achieved impressive results with 99 medals - nearly 1/3 of the total medals of the entire Vietnamese delegation.

The city has also accelerated the progress of planning; infrastructure construction and urban development, especially the commencement of the Ring Road 4 project - Hanoi Capital Region and continued to accelerate the remaining implementation to ensure project progress; continued to develop commercial housing, social housing, resettlement housing; accelerated the progress of 4 clean water projects and the water supply network project for the remaining communes...

National defense work is strengthened; political security and social order and safety are ensured; foreign affairs activities continue to be maintained and developed.

Key tasks and solutions for the last 6 months of 2023: Accelerating the implementation of key projects

To achieve the GRDP growth target of 7.0% for the whole year of 2023, the third quarter must increase by 7.54% or more, the fourth quarter must increase by 8.23% or more, the city continues to focus on implementing the following key contents:

Ensure stable economic growth of the capital, control inflation; continue to consolidate and promote growth drivers. Ensure capital needs for the economy and liquidity of the system. Balance budget revenue and expenditure; balance supply and demand, especially balance of gasoline, oil and essential goods for production and consumption; provide safe and stable electricity...

Accelerate project implementation and disbursement of public investment capital, especially key projects. Effectively implement the Cultural Industry Development Plan; investment plan for 3 areas; control Covid-19 and summer epidemics.

Accelerate planning work; improve the efficiency and quality of state management of planning, land, urban areas and environmental protection, such as: Completing and submitting for approval the Hanoi Capital Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050; implementing the Task of the Project to Adjust the Overall Master Plan for Construction of Hanoi Capital to 2045, with a vision to 2065; completing a number of detailed plans for old apartment buildings and speeding up the implementation of the project to renovate old apartment buildings; reviewing, amending and supplementing regulations on land recovery, land allocation, land lease, land use purpose conversion, and land use rights auction.

At the same time, continue to tighten discipline and administrative order; effectively implement the work of preventing and combating corruption, negativity and waste; ensure national defense, security and absolute safety for political, cultural and sports events in the area.

Deputy Director of Department of Transport Do Viet Hai.

Responding to reporters' questions about parking on even and odd days, Deputy Director of the Department of Transport Do Viet Hai said that the regulation on parking on even and odd days is currently being piloted on 5 streets: Da Tuong, Nguyen Gia Thieu, Nguyen Binh Khiem, Thi Sach, Han Thuyen, which is a solution to help reduce traffic congestion and ensure fairness in parking, business, and trading of people on both sides of the road.

Responding to reporters' questions about the electricity supply situation in the coming time, the leader of Hanoi Electricity Corporation (EVNHANOI) affirmed that in the coming time, the city will provide enough electricity for the people. However, during the peak heat wave, from July 1 to 10, EVNHANOI also hopes that people, businesses, and units will join hands to save electricity, especially during peak times from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 19:00 to 23:00.

Chief of Office of Hanoi People's Committee, concurrently spokesman of the City People's Committee Truong Viet Dung spoke at the press conference.

Answering reporters' questions about slow-moving projects in the city, Mr. Truong Viet Dung said that up to now, there are 712 projects on the list to be reviewed. Under the close and drastic direction of the City Party Committee, 66 projects have decisions to reclaim land, cancel land lease decisions, and stop implementation; 60 projects are completing procedures, assigning departments, branches, and investors to carry out procedures, expected to be completed in July 2023, a total of 419 projects reduced compared to the original list. Currently, there are only 293 projects under consideration for handling. Chairman of the City People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh affirmed that there will be a plan to handle these 293 projects in 2023. All lists will be made public, so that people and authorities can participate in monitoring and continue to develop plans for implemented projects.

News and photos: THANH HUONG - PHAM LINH