Phu Yen, December 9 (VNA) – Phu Yen province should build on its farming economy in the north central region, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said while working with top provincial officials in the locality on December 9.
Concurring with three key priorities in infrastructure, institutional reform and human resources development, he asked local officials to come up with flexible and concrete plans aligned with the province’s strengths, towards developing marine-based and forestry economies.
He also sought stronger attention to poverty reduction, expansion of industry, trade and services so as to offer locals better lives.
Home to a majority of rural workers, Phu Yen must exert stronger will to build new-style rural areas with farmers as a focus while building up a strong political system at the grassroots level, he said.
Reviewing past achievements, the top legislator praised the province for its economic growth of over 10 percent in the past years, saying that it is an encouraging performance against the backdrop of the present economic downturn.
Over the past three years, the local economy has grown on average by 11.78 percent per annum, generating a gross domestic product of 27.3 million VND (1,300 USD) per capita, up 72.8 percent from 2010.
Revenue going to the State budget has risen by 18 percent each year while the annual rate of poor households has fallen by over two percent, settling at 13.3 percent this year.
Phu Yen has poured over 18.7 trillion VND (890 million USD) into agriculture and rural areas, with 21 out of 29 communes meeting 10-16 national criteria for new-style rural areas.
The local officials asked for more funding from the State in sea transport and the Ba River monitoring system, and support for fishermen in offshore fishing.
Meeting with local lecturers and students from Phu Yen University, who vote for National Assembly deputies the same day, Chairman Hung required Phu Yen to focus on formal education, including vocational training for rural workers, with priority to the families of those who rendered services to the nation and live in difficulty.
He pressed for a ramp-up in education quality by rolling out a self-reliance mechanism and mobilising more social funding for education.
Voters suggested adding social skills courses to curricular activities in universities, colleges and schools. Simultaneously, it is necessary to review and forecast workforce demand at both national and local levels, as part of efforts to help youngsters choose their most suitable jobs.-VNA
