Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has called on the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long to speed up economic restructuring by focusing on industrial development, while tapping agricultural strengths.

The Government leader gave the advice during his working session with the provincial administration on September 6. He said Vinh Long should cash in on its temperate climate and fertile land which is ideal for fruit specialties such as grapefruit and freshwater products like Tra and Basa fish.

He asked provincial authorities to work out policies in favour of agricultural production on an industrial scale in harmony with rural development and improvement of farmers’ living conditions.

Dung called on the province to increase GDP growth to over 13 percent annually in the next five years from 11.19 percent in the 2006-10 period and per-capita incomes to 1,850 USD by 2015 from 1,000 USD at present.

The poverty rate should drop by two percent in each of the next five years while all industrial and medical facilities should have their waste collected and properly treated.

All this should be done in an effort to join the national industrialisation and modernisation cause, the Government leader emphasised.

In this regard, Prime Minister Dung and provincial leaders shared a view on intensifying investment in traffic infrastructure, irrigation projects, healthcare, education, rural vocational training and employment promotion./.