Removing difficulties for businesses and speeding up restructuring are just some of the key measures that the northern port city of Hai Phong has decided to promote in a bid to facilitate its socio-economic development in 2014.

During a November 27 conference reviewing the task performance in 2013 and outlining key directions for 2014, Secretary of the city’s Party Committee Nguyen Van Thanh underscored measures to further social and cultural development, ensure social welfare and increase local income.

The city will also enhance administrative management efficiency and urban development, while stepping up the programme of building new rural areas, protecting the environment, strengthening science and technology renovation and improving human resource quality, he pledged.

In 2014, Hai Phong will strive to record GDP growth of 8-9 percent compared to 2013. It targets a 6.4-7.4 percent rise in the industry and construction sectors and 9.6-10.7 percent in the service sector.

The city will work to handle 53 million tonnes of goods through its port, and to earn a 16-17 percent increase in export turnover.

Meanwhile, the city will exert efforts to lure about 5.2 million visitors and offer training to 74 percent of local labours.

In 2013, Hai Phong is in the top three localities leading the country in attracting foreign direct investment. It currently hosts 362 valid FDI projects worth a total 8.27 billion USD.

The city was also one of the first localities to carry out examinations to recruit public servants in an open and transparent manner, including the rector position for the Hai Phong University – the city’s largest academic institute.-VNA