Socio-economic achievements many positive results
Reporting on the socio-economic situation, Director of the Department of Planning and Investment of Ho Chi Minh City Le Thi Huynh Mai assessed that in general, in August and the first 8 months of the year, the socio-economic situation of Ho Chi Minh City achieved many positive results. The index of industrial production (IIP) in August increased by 6.6%; the volume of public passenger transport is estimated at 34.7 million passengers, up 12.1%; 25,523 newly established enterprises, up 11.3%; export turnover increased by 7.3% over the same period.
In the first 8 months of the year, the index of industrial production (IIP) of the whole industry increased by 2.8% over the same period; for the 4 key industries, the index of industrial production increased by 6%. Total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue increased by 7.6%; total tourism revenue increased by 44%; public passenger transport volume increased by 23.9%; cargo output through seaports in the first 8 months of 2023 is estimated at 113.72 million tons, up 3.85% over the same period.
 |
Director of the Department of Planning and Investment of Ho Chi Minh City Le Thi Huynh Mai reports on the socio-economic situation. Photo: VIET DUNG |
However, there are still some shortcomings and limitations. Although tourism revenue and the number of international and domestic visitors in the first 8 months of the year increased, in August, it decreased by 1.2% compared to the same period; international visitors to Ho Chi Minh City decreased by 22%; domestic visitors decreased by 6%.
Export turnover in the first 8 months of the year decreased by 15.3% compared to the same period. The number of newly established enterprises increased but registered capital decreased by 12.4% compared to the same period; 22,387 enterprises temporarily suspended operations, up 28.3%; FDI attraction was about 1.96 billion USD, down 27% compared to the same period. The result of disbursement of public investment capital reached 19,133 billion VND, only reaching 28% of the assigned capital plan, not ensuring the disbursement progress according to regulations.
Need for innovative and breakthrough thinking in planning
Speaking at the direction, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai said that the Ho Chi Minh City socio-economic meeting in August 2023 is also the one-month anniversary of Resolution 98/2023/QH15 on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City taking effect.
In recent times, Ho Chi Minh City has implemented many tasks to materialize Resolution 98/2023/QH15. The Ho Chi Minh City People's Council has issued a resolution on allocating public investment capital for the sustainable poverty reduction program. According to comrade Phan Van Mai, this content is very meaningful, bringing direct and practical benefits to the people of Ho Chi Minh City, especially the poor. In addition, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council has allocated budget capital to implement the Ho Chi Minh City - Moc Bai expressway project, adjusting the medium-term public investment plan for 2021-2025.
In addition, Thu Duc City also decided to establish 3 new centers according to Resolution 98/2023/QH15: Social Security Center, Technical Infrastructure Development Center, Trade and Investment Promotion Center. Thu Duc City People's Council has established the Urban Committee. In the upcoming session of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee will submit a draft resolution on the organization of administrative agencies for Thu Duc City. This is an important step for Thu Duc City to have an effective operating mechanism. The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee will increase decentralization to Thu Duc City government in many areas.
According to the Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, the Standing Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee has issued Resolution 08 on the direction, tasks and some mechanisms for the development of Thu Duc City in the period of 2021-2025, with a vision to 2030 with 26 groups of tasks; Resolution 12 on the development orientation of Can Gio district to 2030 with 41 groups of tasks. Comrade Phan Van Mai requested that localities and departments focus on concretizing the groups of tasks set forth by the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee in the two resolutions.
In addition, the Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee said that the city is urgently implementing the planning work. Recently, the leaders of Ho Chi Minh City organized a survey of the Saigon River and flew by helicopter to survey the planning of Ho Chi Minh City. The survey helped the leaders of Ho Chi Minh City have an overview of the planning of Ho Chi Minh City.
The head of the Ho Chi Minh City government acknowledged that the current state of Ho Chi Minh City's planning is still jagged and leopard-skinned, and that there needs to be innovative thinking and breakthroughs in planning organization to rearrange urban space, production space, public space and green space... The Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee requested that departments, branches and localities, when working with planning consultants, must present appropriate development orientations and ideas.
 |
Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai speaks at the meeting. Photo: VIET DUNG |
Regarding the disbursement of public investment capital, comrade Phan Van Mai said that although the results have improved, Ho Chi Minh City is still among the localities with slow disbursement of public investment capital. As of August 25, Ho Chi Minh City had only disbursed 19,000 billion, reaching 28% of the assigned target. He said that not only the disbursement in the project site clearance stage, but the overall disbursement work was also slow.
With the problem of disbursement in site clearance, he requested localities and departments to uphold their sense of responsibility, focus on following up and resolving each project. At the same time, 4 major project management boards responsible for disbursing 70% of investment capital, including: Traffic Construction Investment Management Board, Urban Railway Management Board, Urban Infrastructure Construction Investment Project Management Board, and Industrial Construction Investment Management Board, must resolutely implement the task groups.
Regarding the issue of budget collection, comrade Phan Van Mai said that the collection results so far have not met the set requirements. Departments and branches must continue to implement solutions to nurture revenue sources, remove difficulties for businesses, review revenue and expenditure discipline, and avoid revenue loss. In particular, it is necessary to promote revenue sources from land, which both creates revenue for Ho Chi Minh City and removes difficulties for projects.
Comrade Phan Van Mai also gave instructions related to the development of the cultural and social fields. In particular, he requested the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City to study and propose a suitable enrollment plan for Ho Chi Minh City from next year, ensuring the need for public school education of Ho Chi Minh City children; developing 4,500 new classrooms.
“Not only that, it is necessary to study the exemption or reduction of tuition fees for students. How can Ho Chi Minh City exempt tuition fees for high school students by 2025, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification?”, Comrade Phan Van Mai raised the issue.
Continue the stabilization program before price fluctuations
 |
Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade Bui Ta Hoang Vu speaks at the meeting. Photo: VIET DUNG |
According to the report of the General Statistics Office, compared to August 2022, commodity groups with prices increasing by more than 10% include: food and foodstuffs increased by 22%; household appliances, tools and equipment increased by 18%; cultural and educational items increased by 25%; gasoline and oil increased by 39%; precious stones and metals increased by 53%; motor vehicle repairs increased by 36%.
Faced with the situation of price fluctuations affecting consumers, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City Bui Ta Hoang Vu said that Ho Chi Minh City will continue to implement price stabilization programs. Enterprises participating in price stabilization have played a role in stabilizing goods, currently only 2 stabilized goods have increased in price. In areas with many low-income people, workers, and students, the Department of Industry and Trade will coordinate with districts to add price stabilization points of sale.
Early application of Resolution 98 to increase revenue
 |
Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Finance Phan Thi Hong informed about the budget revenue and expenditure situation. Photo: VIET DUNG |
Total state budget revenue in the first 8 months of the year is estimated at VND297,993 billion, reaching 63.45% of the year's estimate. Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Finance Phan Thi Hong said that the estimated budget revenue in 2023 of Ho Chi Minh City increased by 20% compared to 2022, but the revenue only reached 93.24% over the same period. To complete the budget revenue target, the Ho Chi Minh City finance sector must closely monitor the revenue and expenditure situation, implement solutions to collect correctly and fully, and combat tax evasion and trade fraud.
In addition, the Department of Finance will coordinate with departments, branches and districts to quickly promote specific mechanisms from Resolution 98 to increase revenue. At the same time, review and increase revenue from land, speed up the disbursement of public investment capital, put projects into operation soon to increase economic growth stimulus, remove difficulties for businesses; strengthen tax management for the night-time economy, real estate transfer business and e-commerce...
Source
Comment (0)