State President Nguyen Minh Triet has emphasised the need for the northern mountain province of Thai Nguyen to call for investment in its steel industry.

President Triet made the request while working with the provincial leaders during his two-day visit on March 2 and 3.

The province needs to focus on key investment projects to make breakthroughs in economic development, he said.

The State leader also asked Thai Nguyen to pay attention to industrial and rural development to improve local people’s lives, which serves as the foundation for sustainable development.

He took the occasion to praise the province’s achievements in economics, society, culture, education, healthcare, security and defence, stressing that Thai Nguyen’s GDP growth rate of 9.1 percent in 2009 was an encouraging achievement.

However, he pointed out some of the province’s shortcomings such as poor living conditions for many residents and a high poverty rate. At the same time, he was mindful that such problems exist throughout the country.

In response to this reality, he called on the provincial people to join the entire country in exerting their efforts in production so as to narrow the development gap between Vietnam and other countries.

President Triet also highlighted Thai Nguyen’s efforts to improve the quality of judicial activities and governmental operations.

On March 2, the State President attended a ceremony and pressed a button to start the construction of the Da Phuc port complex in Thuan Thanh commune, Pho Yen district.

The 260 billion VND complex, which is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year, will assist Thai Nguyen province in attracting investment and in terms of its customs activities as well as help reduce the stress on land transport activities.

While visiting the High Command of Military Zone No 1, the president asked the zone’s soldiers to fight against acts of sabotage, smuggling and counterfeit goods and maintain peaceful border for the province as well as eradicate hunger and reduce poverty for ethnic minority people in remote and mountainous areas.

President Triet also toured a number of steel establishments in the province./.