Ninh Binh strives to fulfill socio-economic development targets for 2020

In the first eight months of 2020, the province's economy remained stable with industrial production value up 6.1 percent, total state budget collection reaching 83.4 percent of the estimate and public investment disbursement exceeding 80 percent while social security was ensured.

Implementing the "double tasks"

In order to successfully implement socio-economic tasks for 2020, the Provincial People's Committee has directed local agencies and units to carry out the "double tasks" of preventing the COVID-19 pandemic and maintaining socio-economic activities.

 Hoang Trung Kien, Director of the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, said the COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted the supply chain of input materials and markets, affecting the recovery of production.

The industry and trade sector has proactively put forth numerous practical measures to remove difficulties faced by enterprises such as continuing to implement programmes and plans on developing industry and small handicrafts; national industrial extension and supporting industry in 2020.

In addition, the Department of Industry and Trade suggested the provincial People's Committee take synchronous and consistent policies and solutions in building industrial zones and clusters to draw more investment. 

These efforts have paid off with the industrial production value in the first eight months reaching 52.3 trillion VND, up 6.1 percent over the same period last year.

Local manufacturing enterprises have also taken solutions to minimize other costs to ensure the living conditions of workers. Distributors, supermarkets and agents sought ways to stockpile goods in a bid to meet local people's demands.

Another bright spot of the province's economic picture in the first eight months of this year was disbursement of public investment capital.

From the beginning of the year, the provincial People's Committee has directed departments, sectors, and investors to focus on implementing and completing investment procedures, solving problems related to site clearance, and speed up construction progress, acceptance and payment for the completed workload.

Thanks to these efforts, the public investment disbursement has gained positive results. As of August 20, the total disbursed capital hit 3.3 trillion VND, equivalent to 102 percent of the planned capital. The disbursement of public investment was seen as a boost to the local economy in the post-COVID-19 period.

 Breakthrough solutions needed

Besides the bright spots of the local economy, the trade and service sectors have still suffered great impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, especially restaurants, hotels, tourist companies, and transportation service providers. Therefore, in the first eight months of 2020, the total retail sales of goods decreased by 3 percent over the same period last year.

The export sector has seen signs of recovery, but total export turnover in the first eight months of the year still decreased by 0.3 percent as compared to the same period of 2019 and reached only 69.9 percent of the yearly plan. 

The number of visitors and tourism turnover fell sharply. In the first eight months of the year, the province welcomed 1.86 million visitors, down 70 percent while revenue from tourism dropped by 62 percent from the same period in 2019.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, localities, units and sectors must do their utmost and have breakthrough solutions in order to achieve socio-economic targets of 2020.  

Relevant sectors and localities must speed up site clearance for projects in the province, including the South-North Expressway; Bai Dinh-Ba Sao road; expanded Gian Khau industrial park; and dormitories for workers.

They should focus on accelerating the completion of investment procedures, site clearance and difficulties to speed up the construction progress and disbursement of public investment capital as well as non-state budget projects according to Plan No. 71/KH-UBND dated July 7, 2020 of the provincial People's Committee.

Investors need to transfer capital from projects that have not completed investment procedures to others that may be completed soon.

Sectors and administrations at all levels are requested to coordinate together to effectively implement specific solutions to remove difficulties for production and business activities, with the focus on improving the investment climate, enhancing the provincial competitiveness index (PCI) and expanding consumption markets.

 The province will strengthen state management of budget collection and strive to complete and exceed the State budget collection estimate in 2020.

Ninh Binh will also intensify financial discipline and transparency in budget expenditure; cut down at least 70 percent of expenses for conferences, seminars, business trips at home and abroad; reduce procurement expenses in accordance with the direction of the Government in Resolution No. 84/NQ-CP dated May 29, 2020 to reserve resources for disease prevention, socio-economic development and social security.

Nguyen Thuy