Nam Dinh must balance socio-economic growth, environment protection

Nam Dinh (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told the northern province of Nam Dinh to harmonise socio-economic development and environmental protection, during a working session with local officials on June 8.

He said although Nam Dinh has done a good job of developing the economy, especially in building new-style rural areas and exports, it is still a deprived province as the local economy relies mostly on agriculture, and it is only able to cover only 32 percent of expenditure itself. It has fared well in ensuring political security and social order, but traffic safety still needs to be enhanced.

He told provincial authorities to accelerate the disbursement of investment capital, since the disbursed sum for local projects has reached only 19 percent of the expected amount.

Nam Dinh needs to work harder to improve the capacity of its officials and public servants while creating a fabourable start-up environment as there are only 3,000 businesses in the province, much too low compared to its potential, the PM said.

It should strongly call for investment in the industries that it has long been famous for, such as textile – garment and automobile assembly, while encouraging investment in the retail market to capitalise on a population of about 2 million.

The Government leader asked the provincial administration to speed up agricultural restructuring so as to create concentrated and large-scale production areas and raise farmers’ income.

Meanwhile, policies and laws on beliefs and religions must be well enforced in Nam Dinh, home to a large number of religious followers, to help with their religious practices and daily life, he added.

At the working session, provincial officials reported that Nam Dinh has shaped three economic regions with one focusing on agriculture, another on sea-based activities along the 72km coast, and the last on industry and services.

It posted a growth rate of 13.5 percent in 2015. There have been 112 communes recognised as new-style rural areas, accounting for 54 percent of the total communes, and one district getting the title.

The province is stepping up agricultural restructuring and has recorded an average unhusked rice output of over 6.9 tonnes per hectare, they said.

During his working visit to Nam Dinh, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited some new-style rural models in the new-style rural district of Hai Hau, and met with people who rendered service to the nation and a woman holding the Vietnamese Heroic Mother title in My Loc district.-VNA