The central coastal province of Khanh Hoa should take full advantage of its potentials in tourism, services and sea ports to attract investment for fast and sustainable development, turning it into a centre of the southern central region.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the recommendation at a working session with leaders of Khanh Hoa province in Nha Trang city, on June 9 to review the implementation of socio-economic tasks and the government’s resolution on curbing inflation, stabilising the macro-economy and ensuring social security over the past five months.

He also suggested Khanh Hoa review and update its socio-economic development and land use plans, giving priority to the construction of Van Phong port and Cam Ranh airport.

Upon the province’s request, PM Dung gave permission to the Vietnam National Shipping Lines to adjust the scale of Van Phong entrepot project so that it can receive ships from 12,000 TEU.

In the first five months of the year, Khanh Hoa province’s industrial production value reached over 6.6 trillion VND, a year-on-year rise of 17.11 percent, tourism revenue, more than 850 billion VND, up 27.79 percent, export value, more than 388 million USD, a rise of 78.3 percent and budget collection reached over 3.3 trillion VND.

In implementing the government’s resolution No. 11, the province halted 43 projects worth a total 150 billion VND, saved more than 54 billion VND from regular spending, built and handed 1,156 houses for disadvantaged people, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Chien Thang said.

The PM spoke highly of the province’s achievements and at the same time, asked the leaders to focus their attention on agricultural production as the winter-spring crop’s output dropped by 2,800 tonnes over the same period last year.

The province should take drastic measures to fulfil its 2011 socio-economic development plan which sets a GDP growth rate of over 12 percent./.