Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked ministries, sectors and localities to promptly prioritise clearing the obstacles confronted by businesses and dealing with bad debts and inventories to create a driving force for the economy to regain growth.

The Prime Minister made the request at the cabinet’s monthly meeting in Hanoi March 28-29 reviewing the nation’s socio-economic performance in March and the first quarter of this year.

He highlighted the consistent goal of stabilising the macro-economy, recording an economic growth of 5.5 percent and keeping inflation lower than that of last year in the coming time.

The ministries, sectors and localities were requested to adopt tax incentives to enable businesses to restore production and grow.

They need to step up investment promotion and expansion of export markets along with carrying out the monetary policy flexibly and effectively, and reducing lending rates further, especially for loans in the agriculture and rural development fields and for labour-intensive enterprises, to ensure stable production and job creation.

PM Dung consented to some cabinet members’ proposal of allowing foreigners to buy houses in Vietnam as part of effective solutions to assist the bogged-down real estate market, however, pointing to the need of tight management regulations to prevent the negatives that may occur.

Dung called for the economy to be restructured in a drastic manner covering the areas of public investment, State-owned enterprises and financial market with a priority being given to commercial banks and financial institutions.

The Government leader also reminded ministries, sectors and localities of working together efficiently in implementing the roadmap of increasing the price of a number of commodities and services to avoid adverse impacts on the national economy as well as inflation.

Due attention continue for the execution of social welfare policies, especially for the poor, welfare beneficiaries and those living in areas hit by natural disasters and epidemic diseases, he said.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat and some cabinet members shared the view that the best use of resources should be made to boost agricultural production.

Phat suggested slashing lending rates by 2-3 percent to make it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), especially those working in agriculture, farm produce processing and fishery, to borrow capital to retain operation.

Meanwhile, Minister of Investment and Planning Bui Quang Vinh and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Minh Quang proposed promptly providing credits for buyers of low-cost homes.

Some proposed that the Government should take action to ensure the progress of national target programmes on building new rural areas, social welfare and vocational training and remove difficulties for the poor and ethnic minorities.

In the first quarter of this year, the nation enjoyed a modest growth of 4.89 percent and contained inflation at a low level. In March, there was a trade deficit, and credit and foreign exchange reserves increasing, sending positive signals for growth recovery.

Consequently, synchronous, effective and drastic measures should be taken to revive the economy’s growth and generate jobs to prepare for sustainable economic development, Cabinet members agreed.

During the meeting, the cabinet members listened to and discussed a draft decree on the establishment, organisation and operation of the Vietnam estate management company and a bill on the Law on People’s Public Security.

Besides, they deliberated the draft report on collecting public opinions on amendments to the 1992 Constitution.

The Government’s Steering Board reported that it has to date collected 30 reports relating to the work from ministries and Government bodies, together with 63 reports of the municipal and provincial People’s Councils and Committees.

PM Dung told his members that amending the Constitution aims at building a progressive Constitution that suits the reality and historical condition of Vietnam.

The amending will be grounded firmly on the basic principles of the national construction platform adopted at the 11 th National Party Congress.

It also aims for successful realising the national industrialisation and modernisation, firmly safeguarding the country’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, fully upholding human rights, citizens’ rights and people’s right to master, and build the law-governed state of the people, by the people and for the people, Dung added.-VNA