PM urges localities to promote trade, attract foreign investment
A tra fillet proccessing line at Song Tien Fishery Factory in Dong Thap Province. The Prime Minister has called for efforts to develop local markets and expand export markets throughout the country. — VNA/VNS Photo Dinh Hue
HA NOI (VNS)— Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked ministries, branches and localities to create favourable conditions to attract investment, especially foreign investment and investment in high-tech projects.
The Government leader made the request at the cabinet’s April meeting, which opened in Ha Noi yesterday to review socio-economic development during the first four months of the year and discuss measures for the following months.
He asked for better trade promotion, development of the local market and expansion of export markets for the country.
It is necessary to consistently pursue the 2013 socio-economic targets, strengthen macro-economic stabilisation measures, control inflation and provide capital for prioritised sectors to ease difficulties in production and trading, the Prime Minister said.
Dung said that better observation and more drastic measures are needed in the restructuring of public investment, State-owned enterprises and the banking sector.
He also requested ministries, branches and localities to take measures to ensure traffic safety, reduce traffic congestion and the number of accidents.
Meanwhile, he stressed, they should be active in the prevention of outbreaks of blue-ear disease, avian influenza H5N1 and H7N9, while also implementing measures to protect national sovereignty and ensure national defence, political security and social order.
At the meeting, cabinet members said the April Consumer Price Index increased by 0.02 percent against the previous month, the lowest level in April for four years.
Interest rates fell, helping business and production, and the national foreign currency reserve increased remarkably.
Meanwhile, export value was estimated at US$39.46 billion, a year-on-year rise of 16.9 percent. Social security has been ensured and people’s living conditions have been improved.
The cabinet members also pointed out shortcomings, including in processing and manufacturing, sectors that have been hit hard by high input costs, low purchasing power and slow sales.
It is necessary to remove barriers, create conditions to promote production and maintain business growth, and develop agriculture and industry, they stressed.
At a general meeting of the National Assembly’s Economics Committee also held yesterday, members expressed concerns over reduction of investment revenues and the number of firms reducing their operations.
Bui Sy Loi, deputy head of the NA Social Affairs Committee, noted that workers have been shifting to informal sectors, at 36.6 per cent in 2012 compared with 34.6 per cent in 2010. Loi called for renewing poverty reduction and new rural areas policies.
Vu Viet Ngoan, head of the National Financial Supervisory Commission, said as aggregate supply has been reducing, it would be difficult to reach the 5.5 per cent growth target for 2013.
“Shifting policies to promote production and increase growth is necessary and we should not be too worried about inflation this year,” he said. — VNS