PM asks for price controls as New Year nears

The Prime Minister has urged for balanced supply and demand of goods to keep the prices from spiralling.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has urged for balanced supply and demandof goods so as to keep their prices from spiralling, especially farmproduce and foodstuff as the lunar New Year approaches.

Hemade the request at a monthly Cabinet meeting in Hanoi on December 2to review the January-November socio-economic performance and thefive-year implementation of a Party resolution on agriculture, farmersand rural areas, and discuss how to achieve this year’s goals.

PM Dung requested ministries, agencies and localities to clear businessobstacles, helping firms to scale up their production and trade.

In the past 11 months, the country saw progress in curbing inflationand stabilising the macro-economy with falling interest rates and doublecredit growth compared to the same period last year.

Industrial production was on the recovery, especially the processing andmanufacturing sectors. Exports gained momentum that led to a lowertrade deficit, more foreign direct investment and official developmentassistance were disbursed while social welfare was ensured for all.

The government leader also asked ministries, agencies and localitiesto stick to practising thrift and fulfil this year’s State budget planas previously approved.

He asked them to act quickly onconstruction projects, closely oversee the use of investment capitalwhile extending support to storm-hit victims.

Regardinghydropower projects, relevant agencies must notify the Government ofthe operations of 268 active plants’ reservoirs, the Prime Ministersaid, adding that at the same time, they must pay attention toresettlement and afforestation in areas where these projects areunderway.

During the meeting, Cabinet members discussed andgave opinions on a report on the Party resolution on agriculture,farmers and rural areas.

They said the resolution has provedits high efficiency in maintaining the development of agriculture andrural areas, improving farmers’ income and living conditions, thusmaking significant contributions to sustaining the country’s economicdevelopment as well as social and political stability.

However,participants pointed out that Vietnam’s agricultural sector isfacing a number of shortcomings, including the poor quality andcompetitiveness of products.

They proposed measures to promoteagricultural development in the 2014-2020 period, focusing on continuingstepping up the new-style rural areas programme in line with theenhancement of investment in rural socio-economic infrastructurebuilding.

It is necessary to keep on improving livingconditions for rural residents, especially those in poor areas, theysaid, adding that synchronous solutions should be applied to strengthenthe poverty reduction work, increasing the quality of cultural,education and healthcare services for people in rural areas.

The restructuring of enterprises in the agricultural sector is neededwith better engagement of private firms, and stronger connectivitybetween businesses and farmers, they said.

The Cabinet membersalso emphasised the importance of strengthening technology research andtransfer, as well as human resources training in rural areas.-VNA

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