The southern province of Binh Phuoc should take advantage of its forest land for developing industrial tree plantations with high economic values such as rubber, cocoa, pepper and cashew, as well as its abundant limestone reserves for developing the cement industry.

The request was delivered by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung while working with the provincial leaders in Dong Xoai town on August 10.

The Prime Minister praised efforts made by the provincial authorities and people to overcome difficulties and record certain achievements in all fields, especially politics-security, economy and social order.

The Government leader asked Binh Phuoc province to boost its sustainable development by effectively implementing programmes and projects in the fields of agriculture, industry, service and social security.

Regarding future orientations, PM Dung urged the province to take more drastic measures to fulfil its yearly plan of attaining per-capita income of over 1,000 USD per year and reducing the poverty rate to below 4 percent.

Binh Phuoc should focus on organising Party congresses at all levels with a determination of making the best use of its advantages for rapid and sustainable development, he said.

The province needs to speed up its call for investment in eight industrial parks, concentrating on industries with high added values, together with building cement complexes and increasing areas of rubber, fruit and forest trees, he added.

The PM noted that Binh Phuoc should pay special attention to its planning work as it is part of the southern key economic zone, firstly focusing on traffic infrastructure and personnel training as well as accelerating administrative reforms to attract investors.

Binh Phuoc province has recorded several socio-economic development achievements since it was re-established in 1997, with an average agricultural growth of 9.1 percent and industrial production value up 21 percent per year./.