HCM
City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City’s economy continued its steady
growth in the first eight months this year, said the municipal authorities
during a working session reviewing the city’s performance in the period on
September 5.
Speaking
at the event, Director of the municipal Department of Planning and Investment
Su Ngoc Anh said the total retail value rose 10.3 percent annually to surpass
599.1 trillion VND (26 billion USD) during the period. The total export is
estimated at 22.8 billion USD, up 13.6 percent while the industrial production
index went up 7.31 percent.
Four
key industries, namely mechanical engineering, electronics, chemicals – rubber
– plastics, and food processing, continued expanding their markets. Investment
in advanced equipment to improve quality and competitiveness surged 11.8
percent year-on-year.
Since
early this year, the city has granted licences to 26,614 new firms with a total
registered capital of over 358.89 trillion VND, marking 13.1 percent and 82.9
increases in the number of businesses and registered capital, respectively.
Up
to 1,171 business households have switched their status to businesses.
Meanwhile, the total foreign direct investment attraction hit 3.23 billion USD,
representing a 1.57-fold increase annually.
Anh
attributed the growth to the city’s support in delivering innovation, improving
the business climate and refining start-up ecology. At the same time, the city has
also facilitated technological transfer in agriculture to produce safe and
quality farm produce.
The
total agro-forestry-fisheries value was estimated at over 7.63 trillion VND, up
6.5 percent on the yearly basis.
Director
of the municipal Department of Finance Phan Thi Thang said the city collected
in excess of 224 trillion VND to the State budget, or 64.39 percent of the
estimate and up 11.47 percent from the same period last year. The total
spending stood at 33.58 trillion VND, or 47.54 percent of the estimate and up
20.64 percent.
Chairman
of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong took the occasion to
request agencies concerned to continue perfecting start-up ecology, encouraging
innovation and improving the business climate.-VNA