Sectors and localities in the Southwestern region needs to exert efforts in clearing hurdles to production and goods consumption while tackling bad debts.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh made the request at a conference of the Southwestern Region Steering Committee in Can Tho city on July 18 to review the performance of its tasks in the first half of the year and discuss orientations for the second half.

Deputy PM Ninh, who is also head of the committee, urged the region to enhance market and budget management as well as actively fight smuggling and trade fraud.

Regional sectors and localities were required to take measures to boost production and goods consumption in a sustainable manner while considering production planning and product restructuring based on each’s strength.

Production should be combined with processing and consumption, he said, stressing the need to seek a good model that can be multiplied in the region.

The State also needs to devise policies and mechanisms on infrastructure investment and scientific-technological application in production, he stressed.

The Deputy PM praised significant achievements the region has made in socio-economic development over the past six months, with an average GDP growth of 9 percent, nearly doubling the country’s figure, people’s improved living standards and reduced poverty rate.

This year, the region aims to contain inflation, stabilise the macro-economy with a 11 percent economic growth, raise average per capita income to 37 million VND (1,760 USD) per annum, and generate 11 billion USD from exports, a year-on-year increase of 10 percent.-VNA