Quang Ninh posted anestimated economic growth rate of 8.6 percent in the first nine months of 2021,much higher than the national average, which was mainly driven by theprocessing and manufacturing industry.
The province’s contributionto the State budget topped 33.5 trillion VND (1.47 billion USD), equivalent to93 percent of the sum collected in the same period last year, while totalinvestment in society approximated 64 trillion VND, up 7.8 percent.
Chairman of the provincialPeople’s Committee Nguyen Tuong Van attributed the achievements to localbusinesses and entrepreneurs’ proactiveness in implementing various solutions suchas adopting flexible work hours, arranging on-site Tet celebrations foremployees, cutting down production costs, seeking alternative material sources,expanding markets, seizing new business chances, and applying digitaltechnology to production and business activities.
To adapt to and safelyoperate amid the pandemic, enterprises, including FDI firms, have exertedenormous efforts and changed their mindsets and methodologies, he noted.
Phung Ky Luan, GeneralDirector of the Tonly & Pully Vietnam company in the Dong Mai IndustrialPark in Quang Yen town, said in the most intense moments of the pandemic, hiscompany made arrangements for workers to stay at the factory so as to meetdelivery deadlines. It has also moved to minimise production costs, seek newsources of material supply, and expand the market.
He thanked local authoritiesfor accompanying enterprises, voicing his hope that the business community’sexpansion of operations will contribute to local economic growth.
The Viet Long Investment andConstruction JSC, headquartered in Ha Long city, specialises in construction,agriculture, and environment.
Le Quang Thang, Chairman of itsBoard of Directors and General Director, pointed out the difficulties facinghis firm during the fourth wave of COVID-19 infections, including material andlabour shortages due to travel restrictions and surging expenses.
Facing that fact, the firmhas had to seek every possible way to maintain jobs and income for nearly 500employees. It has changed its governance methodology, organised virtualmeetings, and installed more cameras at the production zone to issue timelyinstructions, he added.
Though the nine-month GRDPgrowth, at 8.6 percent, is higher than the national average, it is still 1.1percentage points lower than the target of 9.7 percent set at the start of2021.
To achieve this year’s growthtarget of 10.5 percent, the rate must be 15.3 percent in the fourth quarter,which means Quang Ninh and the local business community will have to makestronger efforts.
Tourism, a major sector ofthe local economy, earned only more than 5 trillion VND in revenue betweenJanuary and September, plunging 59 percent year on year. Given this, theindustry - construction sector is expected to remain the driving force forlocal growth in Q4.
Authorities have pledged maximumsupport for industrial businesses to increase productivity and output.
Pham Van The, Chairman of theQuang Ninh Business Association, said more than 2,000 companies wereestablished or resumed operations during the nine months, up 19 percent from ayear earlier, which is a positive figure showing the strong will and efforts bybusinesses and entrepreneurs in the province.
He recommended the localadministration consider a particular aid package for the tourism and serviceindustries so that they can survive the pandemic.
To realise the “twin targets”in 2021 and the following years, Van said Quang Ninh will continue striving tokeep “green zones” safe and develop the province in the “new normal” status. Itwill step up activities of the special working groups established under the PrimeMinister’s order to deal with problems facing pandemic-hit businesses andpeople while tackling obstacles and promoting investment projects./.