Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh needs to develop a more transparent and efficient business environment in an attempt to attract investors.

He attended a meeting on which Quang Ninh announced its seven strategic plans on September 13.

PM Dung highlighted the province’s economic potential and advantageous geographic location, urging the locality to mobilise all its sources to boost socio-economic development even further.

He hailed the efforts of the province undertaken in the last year, achieving a 9-percent annual growth rate and reduced poverty rate of approximately 2 percent.

However, Quang Ninh has not yet reached its full development potential, he said. He pointed to a number of shortcomings of the province, including the inefficiency of its agricultural sector, employing 40 percent of labourers but only contributing 6 percent to the province’s GDP.

PM Dung requested the province pay more attention to administrative reform whilst working harder to improve the quality of human resources.

Quang Ninh should also reinforce its political system and boost defence and security measures. Furthermore, the province should revitalise its relations with neighbouring Chinese provinces, which would benefit both sides, he said.

In the meeting, the province announced its strategic plan for 2020 with a vision to 2030, with seven master plans on socio-economic development, construction, tourism, environment, land use, science and technology development, and human resources, which showed close connection with the entire Hong (Red) river delta development plan.-VNA