The northern province of Ninh Binh should make the most of its tourism and services potential to serve its socio-economic development and improve the lives of local people.

Prime Minster Nguyen Tan Dung made the statement at a meeting to discuss the province’s socio-economic performance with its leaders on January 27.

He highly valued the region’s 2012 achievements, especially in curbing inflation, maintaining its growth rate and industrial production, and assuring social welfare.

Last year, Ninh Binh recorded a growth rate of 11.05 percent and its industrial production enjoyed a year-on-year increase of 14.6 percent. The province’s agricultural sector developed steadily, and political security, social safety and order were maintained.

Dung suggested the province focusing on removing business obstacles, creating favourable conditions for business development, and solving bad debts and inventories, especially in the cement sector.

Ninh Binh also needs to concentrate on building new rural areas, promote agricultural and breeding activities, and apply scientific technology in production to increase productivity and quality, he added.

According to Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Bui Van Thang, the province has outlined its 2013 targets for socio-economic development, which include speeding up the rate of economic growth; further developing industrial, agricultural, tourism and services sectors; focusing on building new rural areas; improving people’s living conditions; boosting administrative reform; strengthening defence security; maintaining political security and social safety.

Also on the day, PM Dung visited Ninh Binh’s neighbouring province of Ha Nam, where he held a working session with the provincial leaders on how to develop rural infrastructure and accelerate production to help local people enjoy a better life.

Dung said the province should establish an infrastructure that would well serve development needs in the new period.

Ha Nam needs to continue taking drastic measures to improve its investment environment, deploy more investment promotional activities, develop fully-equipped infrastructure at industrial zones to greet more invested projects.

The province also works to provide a happy, warm, safe and healthy New Year for its people, PM Dung said.

Ha Nam maintained its GDP growth rate of 12.5 percent and reduced poor households to 8.83 percent in 2012. It targets a higher GDP growth rate in 2013.-VNA