Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung asked the northern port city of Hai Phong to continue removing obstacles faced by businesses, reducing inventories and expanding consumer markets at a working session with municipal leaders on December 4.

The PM praised the city’s comprehensive socio-economic development achievements in 2012 and its estimated GDP growth rate of 8.12 percent, in spite of numerous difficulties and challenges.

In 2013, Hai Phong should closely follow the Party Central Committee’s resolutions to implement in a synchronous, resolute and effective way measures to maintain macroeconomic stability and a higher growth rate, as well as improve social welfare, vocational training and job generation, he said.

The city should prioritise site clearance and improve administrative procedures in investment, construction and land management while accelerating the implementation of major projects to boost the city’s and region’s development, including the Hanoi-Hai Phong expressway, he added.

According to the Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, Duong Anh Dien, in 2013 Hai Phong will improve growth quality, adjust economic and investment structures, and remove business obstacles to boost production and business activities.

The city will strive to maintain defence-security, social order and safety, and successfully organise the Red River Delta-Hai Phong National Tourism Year 2013, he said.

The city also aims for a GDP growth rate of 8.5-9 percent, 51,000 new jobs, and a reduced rate of poor households - 3.15 percent, he added.

On the same day, PM Dung met with voters in the city’s Hong Bang district to inform them of the results of the fourth session of the 13 th National Assembly.

The voters spoke highly of the effective and flexible measures taken by the Government to curb inflation, stabilise the macro economy and ensure social welfare.

They suggested the Government concentrates on educational-training development, vocational training, job generation for rural labourers, land use and management, and infrastructure development.

PM Dung affirmed that the Government will direct the ministries, agencies and localities to continue implementing measures to ensure social welfare, better public health services, and remove difficulties for businesses.-VNA