Phu Tho should focus on industrial development: Deputy PM

Phu Tho (VNA) – The northern midland province of Phu Tho should use industrial development to drive its growth, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung has said.

Dung made the recommendation at a meeting with local authorities on January 25, as part of his working trip to the province. He led a Government delegation, which comprised of leaders of various ministries, including the ministries of Planning and Investment, Transport, Construction, and Agricultural and Rural Development.

At the meeting, reports on the province’s recent performance were delivered. Accordingly, Phu Tho has recorded an over 8.34-percent growth rate, with local industry, services, and agriculture posting stable development.

After lauding efforts made to achieve such outcomes, Deputy PM Dung pointed to some of the challenges and shortcomings facing the locality, which include the small scale of the economy; a lack of breakthrough moves to alter the economic structure; and a shortage of new, high value-added industrial products.

Phu Tho boasts tremendous tourism potential, but finds it hard to mobilise resources to develop the sector, he said, adding that its agricultural restructuring has been ineffective.

Highlighting that the province lies on the Hai Phong-Hanoi-Kunming economic corridor, Dung said it has favourable conditions for production, business, and trade with domestic and international partners.

He suggested that Phu Tho continue intensifying economic restructuring to define its order of priority, the composition of its key sectors, and its spearhead products, asking local authorities to make better preparation for investment in major projects in regional connectivity, industry, tourism, and services.

Phu Tho should include urban development, particularly the building of social housing, in its industrial development work, he suggested.

The Deputy PM recommended that the province intensify its administrative reform, develop human resources, and do more to protect the environment so as to create a favourable business climate.

Ensuring social security and order is also important, Dung said.

At the working session, he also responded to requests from local authorities and asked relevant ministries and sectors to help Phu Tho tackle difficulties in development.

The same day, he visited and presented gifts to workers at an industrial park, underprivileged residents, and former officials in the province. –VNA