Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh on July 16 attended a working session with the southwestern province of Soc Trang’s officials to discuss its socio-economic development in the first half of 2013 and the implementation of its new rural construction programme.

In the reviewed period, Soc Trang’s rate of GDP growth was 8.75 percent, a slight increase from the 8.34 percent recorded in the first six months of 2012, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Trung Hieu reported at the session.

The province’s estimated rice output is expected to exceed 2.2 million tonnes this year due to its large-scale field model, which expanded to include 12,500 ha and 8,400 farming households, Hieu added.

Soc Trang has also poured more than 400 billion VND (18.8 million USD) into the execution of the new rural construction programme in the first half of this year, and continues to implement social security policies to ensure social order and political security.

At the session, Deputy PM Ninh applauded the province’s efforts to boost socio-economic development and deal with issues concerning social security and order.

He asked Soc Trang, home to a large number of Khmer ethnic minority people, to promote the effectiveness of poverty reduction programmes and strengthen the great unity among ethnic groups residing in the province.

The Deputy Prime Minister directed the province to bring into play the reached achievements and ease difficulties to complete goals as planned this year and in subsequent years.


During the session, Deputy PM Ninh gave several suggestions on a settlement project for ethnic groups in the province’s Vinh Chau town, the continued injection of capital for key works, and projects to support climate change adaptation in the province.

On the occasion, the Deputy Prime Minister and his working delegation made fact-finding tours to several dairy farms and large-scale fields in the province’s Tran De district.-VNA