Also attending were Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan, Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh; Secretary of Dong Thap Provincial Party Committee Le Quoc Phong; and leaders of a number of relevant ministries and branches.

* Balanced, comprehensive and sustainable development

In the context of general difficulties, the Party Committee, government, people and enterprises of Dong Thap province have made efforts to implement solutions to promote economic and social recovery and development and achieved important results. GRDP growth in 2022 reached 8.62%, ranking 5th/13 in the Mekong Delta region. Economic scale in 2022 ranked 5th/13 in the region and 29th/63 nationwide. Average GRDP in 2023 is estimated at 68.83 million VND/person. Agricultural restructuring achieved high results, building effective industry chains. Dong Thap ranked third in the country in OCOP products with 357 products. 94.78% of communes met new rural standards.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh works with the Standing Committee of Dong Thap Provincial Party Committee. Photo: DUONG GIANG

In the first 6 months of 2023, the province's GRDP is estimated to increase by 5.89%; industrial production value reached 35,000 billion VND, up 6.96%; agricultural - forestry - fishery production value reached 21,671 billion VND, up 3.94%; total retail sales of goods and services reached 63,000 billion VND, up 13.14%; the province attracted 2.5 million tourists, up 8.99%; State budget revenue reached 4,123 billion VND, reaching 54.57% of the estimate. Disbursement of public investment capital in 7 months reached 50.38% of the plan.

Dong Thap province continues to promote administrative procedure reform, providing online public services at levels 3 and 4, reaching 73.92%; promoting digital transformation and smart management; improving provincial competitiveness with the PCI index in 2022 ranked 5/63. Urban appearance has many innovations; traffic infrastructure has made a breakthrough.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh concluded the working session with the Standing Committee of Dong Thap Provincial Party Committee. Photo: DUONG GIANG

Dong Thap develops culture and society in harmony with economic development; focuses on building Dong Thap culture and people; organizes many events and festivals to promote the image, products and unique art programs; effectively implements social security and poverty reduction policies. National defense and security are maintained; political security is stable; social order and safety are maintained; foreign affairs are strengthened, especially with localities of Cambodia.

For rapid and sustainable development, Dong Thap province proposes that the Prime Minister consider, direct, support and create conditions for the province to establish a "Center for agricultural and freshwater aquatic products in Dong Thap Muoi region"; build a new Dong Thap Muoi Museum; establish a specialized economic zone; upgrade Thuong Phuoc International Border Gate; develop solar power; invest in a number of key traffic routes connecting the province; overcome the consequences of landslides, and relocate residents in areas at risk of landslides along rivers and canals, etc.

At the meeting, leaders of central ministries and branches spoke and evaluated the socio-economic development results of the province; answered proposals and recommendations and suggested tasks and solutions for Dong Thap to develop quickly and sustainably.

Delegates said that the province needs to strengthen resource management; focus on sustainable development in the direction of: Promoting the system of rivers, canals and ditches to develop waterway transport; developing high-tech agriculture and aquaculture associated with processing to increase product value; eco-tourism, border gate economy...

Concluding the working session, the Prime Minister acknowledged and commended the efforts and highly appreciated the results achieved by the Party Committee, government and people of Dong Thap in implementing socio-economic development tasks in recent times, contributing to the overall development of the whole country.

Analyzing the location, potential and strengths of the province, the Prime Minister said that Dong Thap has a fairly long border with Cambodia, with two international border gates; has two large rivers, Tien River and Hau River, passing through; has a large area of ​​alluvial land; a convenient transportation system with many national highways running through; many famous relics and scenic spots; a diverse ecosystem with many special-use forests and wetlands; abundant and high-quality human resources; Dong Thap people are friendly, affectionate, dynamic, creative and have a passionate tradition of patriotism, many central officials have grown up in Dong Thap; the province has a favorable investment and business environment, especially Dong Thap has the aspiration to develop...

“However, the province's development has not been commensurate with its potential; its potentials, strengths, and many positive evaluation indicators at a high level have not been converted into actual resources and results,” the Prime Minister noted.

The Prime Minister frankly pointed out the limitations that Dong Thap province needs to overcome such as: GRDP growth and investment capital mobilization are still low. The economy has recovered but the growth rate is still slow. Some projects and works are still behind schedule. Landslides and canal pollution pose many challenges. Population arrangement and environmental management still have many challenges. The urbanization rate is still low compared to the general urbanization rate of the country.

* Building a model in developing "agriculture, rural areas"

Regarding the tasks in the coming time, thoroughly grasping the leadership and direction viewpoints, the Prime Minister requested Dong Thap province to be a pioneer and model in implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, building modern countryside, ecological agriculture, civilized farmers; based on science, technology, innovation; focusing on digital transformation, green transformation, circular economy, sharing economy, especially in the agricultural sector to achieve the goal of rapid, comprehensive, inclusive and sustainable development.

Dong Thap Provincial Party Secretary Le Quoc Phong speaks. Photo: DUONG GIANG

The Prime Minister requested Dong Thap province to effectively implement the key strategy, creating breakthrough and sustainable development based on the following pillars: Agricultural economy is the driving force; agricultural processing industry, construction materials, renewable energy, supporting industries are breakthroughs; green growth, digital transformation, innovation, high-quality human resources; synchronous and modern investment in technical infrastructure, social infrastructure, and urban areas.

The Prime Minister requested Dong Thap province to effectively exploit its potentials and advantages; effectively connect with economic centers, exploit its foreign economic advantages with Cambodia; promote human resources, cultural and historical traditions; pay attention to developing culture on par with the economy, ensuring social security and protecting the environment.

In the immediate future, Dong Thap province must complete and implement plans, organize inter-district development spaces, promote distinct potentials, outstanding opportunities, competitive advantages, and create new driving forces; focus on promoting three growth drivers: investment, consumption, and export; drastically accelerate the disbursement of public investment capital and three national target programs; promptly remove difficulties and obstacles, promote production and business; take advantage of the advantages and incentives of commitments in signed FTAs ​​to expand export markets.

Dong Thap continues to promote the connection between the Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City; diversify resources, promote public-private partnership (PPP); strictly manage and use investment capital effectively; develop a synchronous and effective transport network, infrastructure of industrial parks and border economic zones; focus on population arrangement, especially flood-proof residential areas.

The Prime Minister requested the province to continue promoting administrative procedure reform, improving the business investment environment, enhancing competitiveness; accompanying businesses, supporting business development, developing an innovative startup ecosystem, strongly developing the private economy; increasing the attraction of investment capital sources, organizing investment promotion conferences with a number of potential countries.

Along with that, Dong Thap must focus on developing processing industry, high technology, renewable energy; developing organic, sustainable agriculture, applying high technology, adding value, forming key industry chains, with potential, comparative advantages associated with brand building, further promoting OCOP products; developing tourism associated with history, tradition, cultural identity, suitable for natural conditions, typical and specific products.

In particular, the province must focus on protecting the environment and preventing pollution in canals and ditches to maintain living space and important sources of livelihood; have effective scenarios and solutions to respond to natural disasters, climate change, and landslides; consider water resources as a core factor; protect special-use forests, preserve biodiversity; preserve and promote cultural, historical and traditional values; ensure social security and reduce poverty; implement well policies for people with meritorious services; attach importance to investing in training high-quality human resources to meet the needs of the labor market and the requirements of socio-economic development.

The Prime Minister noted that the province focuses on building a clean and strong Party and political system, improving the leadership capacity and fighting strength of Party organizations and Party members; building a team of professional, clean, dedicated cadres serving the people; performing well the work of receiving citizens, resolving complaints and denunciations; preventing and combating corruption, negativity and waste; ensuring national defense and security; maintaining social order and safety; effectively preventing and combating all types of crimes; strengthening foreign affairs to contribute to maintaining a peaceful, friendly and cooperative border.

Regarding the proposals and recommendations of Dong Thap province, the Prime Minister basically agreed to consider and resolve them within his authority; requested ministries, branches and provinces to coordinate in handling them, based on the situation, common resources and following a suitable roadmap, with focus and key points; issues beyond his authority will be submitted to the Government and competent authorities for consideration. In particular, clearly define the goals, responsibilities, resources, and mechanisms for mobilizing non-social resources for development investment.

VNA

*Please visit the Politics section to see related news and articles.