Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on August 26 chaired an online teleconference with leaders from Bac Kan, Thai Binh, Quang Tri, Ninh Thuan and Soc Trang provinces to seek ways to fulfil their socio-economic goals.

PM Dung said, to reach this year’s socio-economic development targets and ensure sustainable growth, the provinces should focus on removing barriers hindering production and business activities as well as boosting exports – the base of each locality’s economy.

Local authorities need to carefully consider proposals and suggestions raised by businesses so as to deal with the hurdles they face, particularly those related to the use of investment capital sourced from the state budget and government bonds, he said.

The government leader asked the provinces to combine the accomplishment of the yearly socio-economic development goals with careful preparations for Party congresses at all levels scheduled for 2010.

In the short-term, the provinces should make concerted efforts to eliminate hunger, reduce poverty, recover quickly from natural disasters, prevent epidemics and improve district-level healthcare systems.

Speeding up administrative reforms, improving access for all students, especially those from poor families, building more dormitories for teachers and upgrading schools are also important tasks, the PM noted.

PM Dung also praised the achievements the five provinces have recorded in the first seven months of the year, saying that these results have helped the country maintain its economic growth and ensure social welfare./.