The northern port city of Hai Phong should focus on developing mechanical engineering projects, such as ship building and repair, supporting industry, electronic equipment and components, cement, steel, seafood processing and high-quality consumer goods production.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung delivered the recommendation at the opening of the 14 th Congress of Hai Phong Party Committee for the 2010-2015 term on November 29, with the participation of 350 delegates representing almost 100,000 Party members of the city.

The PM urged Hai Phong to develop deep seaports, transport infrastructure, warehouses and port and transport services to uphold its role as a major seaport for northern provinces and effectively carry out the “Two corridors, one economic belt” strategy.

The city also needs to adopt stronger solutions to fully tap its tourism potential, promote the development of agricultural production and the rural economy and step up fishing and aquaculture, he said.

To achieve these targets, Hai Phong should mobilize all available resources, make breakthrough developments in transport, irrigation, power, post and telecom infrastructure, speed up administrative reforms, and create a favourable investment environment for investors both at home and abroad, the government leader stressed.

In particular, the city needs to pay attention to developing high-quality human resources, including managers, scientists, technicians and skilled workers, to meet the requirements for industrialization and modernization.

PM Dung went on to say that along with fostering economic development, Hai Phong must give priority to the development of other aspects such as culture, society, education, training, science, technology, social security, environmental protection, social progress and equality.

He also commended the city on its efforts to achieve an average annual growth rate of over 11 percent during the past five years and a per capita gross domestic product (GDP) of almost 1,750 USD in 2010, 1.5 times higher than the nation’s average level.

Hai Phong has also made positive steps in terms of economic restructuring, with services accounting for 53 percent of the city’s GDP, industry and construction making up 37 percent and agro-forestry-fishery, 10 percent. The city has managed to create jobs for close to 45,000 workers each year and reduce the current number of poor households to 3.86 percent.

The three-day congress aims to review the leadership of the municipal Party Committee’s Executive Board during the 2005-2010 tenure, and discuss and make suggestions to draft documents of the XIth National Party Congress.

The congress will also elect a new executive board for the city’s Party Committee for the 2010-2015 term and delegates to the XIth National Party Congress./.