Deputies at the ongoing session of the 12 th National Assembly (NA) on Oct. 27 discussed the implementation of a resolution on socio-economic development in 2009 and plan for 2010 under the chairmanship of Vice NA Chairman Nguyen Duc Kien.

The deputies agreed that Vietnam ’s economy has been recovering, meeting the National Assembly Resolution’s main targets in 2009, thanks to efforts at all levels of ministries, branches, businesses and society, as well as strong, prompt and appropriate policies by the government.

The government speedily deployed economic stimulus packages in reaction to the crisis to ensure social security. Administrative reform has been paid due attention and progress has been made in education and training, and healthcare.

Many deputies highly valued the effectiveness of the economic stimulus packages, describing them as an essential element bringing Vietnam out of economic decline.

Apart from policies on tax exemption, reduction and extension, the government’s interest rate support policy has helped businesses and production households surmount their difficulties, reducing loan costs and product prices and improving competitiveness.

They, however, proposed to take an in-depth look at the social impact of the first stimulus package.

One of key measures, put forth by the government in a bid to successfully implement the socio-economic development plan by 2010 and resume sustainable and rapid economic growth in the ensuing years, is to promptly draw up a project to restructure the economy as well as shift the growth model.

The deputies also discussed and put forth many concrete measures to increase the quality, effectiveness, competitiveness and domestic value of each product and the economy as a whole.

Accordingly, the economic restructuring should be based on three pillars: development of infrastructure, technology and science, human resources, and administrative and economic institutional reforms. The three pillars need to be translated into three programmes with national goal from now through 2015.

Additionally, it is necessary to effectively oversee the flood and storm prevention and management in order to avoid a continuation of the current situation. The government should enact policies to help people rebuild their housing in storm-hit areas, the deputies proposed.

They also requested an increase in the quality of infrastructure in storm-prone regions and the adoption by the government of a regulation to make it compulsory that relevant agencies build infrastructure resistant to floods and storms./.