Illustrative image (Photo: phutho.gov.vn) Phu Tho (VNA) - Despite being severelyimpacted by COVID-19, the northern province of Phu Tho will still attempt tomeet targets set for 2020 rather than making adjustments.
The provincial Department of Planning and Investmentsaid the locality will step up the reform of administrative procedures,especially those relating to investment, and improve its business environmentand provincial competitiveness.
It will also introduce solutions to support businessesand remove difficulties faced by investors.
According to Bui Van Quang, Chairman of the provincialPeople’s Committee, Phu Tho will prioritise projects that use high-technologiesand high-quality workers and create high production values and budgetcollections so as to create socio-economic breakthroughs.
Projects that may pollute the environment, use toomuch land, cause waste, or are too labour-intensive will not be accepted, hesaid.
It will also further restructure its agriculturalsector towards high added value and scientific application, promote near-urbanand high-tech agriculture, mass production and value chains, and combinematerial production with preservation, processing, and consumption.
Nguyen Ngoc Son, Director of the provincial Departmentof Agriculture and Rural Development, said natural disasters and diseases,especially African swine fever, have impacted the local farming sector.
Given this, the department is keeping a close watch ondiseases among livestock, especially African swine fever and avian influenza,to prevent them from breaking out.
More effort will be made to restructure and replenishpig herds, with priority to be given to complete farms, biological safety, andanimal quarantine, while transforming the crop structure, focusing on varietiesof high productivity and quality.
Authorities have also encouraged locals to transformland-use purposes, created conditions for businesses and cooperatives to investin agriculture, and encouraged farms to expand production.
Despite the impact of the pandemic, Phu Tho’s growthhas been estimated at 1.24 percent for the first half of the year thanks to arange of measures introduced to promote production and business.
Its GDP was some 33.46 trillion VND (1.4 billion USD)and export value 1.707 billion USD, up 110 percent year-on-year. Total socialinvestment capital stands at 12.2 trillion VND, equivalent to 95.9 percent ofthe same period last year, while State budget collections hit 3.52 trillionVND, or 56.9 percent of the estimate set by the provincial People’s Council.
Another six communes have been recognised as new-stylerural areas, raising the total to 112.
Phu Tho plans to mobilise 2 trillion VND to buildnew-style rural areas this year.
The province is therefore speeding up production inassociation with agricultural restructuring and focusing on developing organicfarm produce.
Authorities will encourage locals to contribute fundsand effort to develop transport infrastructure, irrigation networks, andcultural works in rural areas.
Phu Tho will also pay greater attention to buildingproduction and consumption chains and promoting key products under the “OneCommune, One Product” (OCOP) programme.
It has moved up nine places in the ProvincialCompetitiveness Index (PCI) over the last five years and is set to do more tofurther raise its position.
In the 2019 rankings, revealed by the Vietnam Chamberof Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the US Agency for International Development(USAID), Phu Tho ranked 26th among Vietnam’s 63 cities and provinces and wasthird among the 14 northern mountainous provinces.
It has jumped nine places since coming in at 35th in2015, primarily thanks to local efforts to improve the investment climate.
To rise further, the provincial People’s Committee hasrequested relevant State agencies press on with simplifying administrativeprocedures to create more favourable conditions for businesses, organisations,and individuals in all economic sectors and to ensure equality for all.
In particular, it asked agencies to raise awarenessand encourage a sense of responsibility among officials and public servantswhile stepping up online payments and the provision of online public servicesto the third and fourth levels.
Phu Tho ranked 20th out of 63 citiesand provinces in the Public Administration Reform Index (PAR INDEX) in 2019, uptwo places from 2018 and putting it third in the northern midland region./.
VNA
