Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has suggested that Phu Tho and Ha Nam provinces apply high technology in agricultural production, during recent working sessions with the two provinces’ officials.

The PM also urged the two provinces to make full use of their advantages to develop service and tourism sectors and attract more investment in high-tech, power saving and environmentally friendly projects.

During his meeting with leaders of the northern mountainous province of Phu Tho, PM Dung applauded comprehensive socio-economic achievements that the province has gained.

At the same time, he also pointed out that the province is facing a lot of challenges, including a large number of poor households, small economic scale plus poor infrastructure system.

PM Dung said the province should stick with the socio-economic targets for the year, concentrating on promoting agriculture and forestry production as well as animal husbandry to tap the potential of local natural conditions.

Besides, the province should also preserve and develop its cultural heritage of Xoan singing, which is on the UNESCO list of world intangible cultural heritage in need of protection and preservation, and the worshipping rite of Hung Kings, also part of the world intangible cultural heritage, thus improving its tourism development, he said.

According to Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Chu Ngoc Anh, in the first half of this year, Phu Tho’s growth rate was estimated at 6.48 percent. Its export earnings rose 13.4 percent, while agro-forestry and fisheries expanded by 6.54 percent and industrial production by 6.8 percent year on year.

At his working session with leaders of Ha Nam province, PM Dung said Ha Nam, with its advantage as a gateway to the capital city of Hanoi and convenient transport system, should try to attract more investment in clean and high-tech industries with high added value.

He noted that the province should accelerate the building of new style rural areas and large-scale agricultural production in combination with processing industry.

According to Mai Tien Dung, Chairman of Ha Nam’s People’s Committee, the province recorded a 10.1 percent GDP growth in the first half of this year, while export turnover jumped by 50.1 percent. Industrial production rose 17.54 percent and the agriculture sector maintained a stable development.-VNA