Mr. Pham Van Thieu, Chairman of the Bac Lieu Provincial People's Committee, articulated the recent socioeconomic performance of the province during an interview with the reporter from the Vietnam Business Forum. He emphasized that opportunities and challenges, strengths and weaknesses are always existentially intertwined. With its position and strengths, and especially its effort and perseverance to reform, Bac Lieu province has seized opportunities, promoted its strengths, addressed its weaknesses, and overcome challenges to achieve further development.
Mr. Lu Van Hung, Secretary of Bac Lieu Provincial Party Committee, and Mr. Pham Van Thieu, Chairman of Bac Lieu Provincial People's Committee, inspect the innovative production model at a local eel hatchery
Could you please tell us about the province’s recent socioeconomic development?
Executing Resolution 01/NQ-CP dated January 6, 2023 of the Government on main tasks and solutions for implementation of socioeconomic development plan and State budget estimates for 2023 and Resolution 11/2022/NQ-HDND dated December 13, 2022 of the Provincial People's Council on socioeconomic development tasks in 2023; assigning socioeconomic development targets and State budget estimates for 2023 to relevant agencies, with highly resolved direction and administration of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People’s Council and the Provincial People’s Committee, with the consensus of the business community and with the support of the people, Bac Lieu province has achieved positive socioeconomic results in the first nine months of 2023.
Agriculture, forestry and fishery production continued to expand, driven by gradual application of high technology, with rising productivity and output, especially rice and shrimp. Aquatic output increased 8.96% year on year.
Industrial production grew. Domestic trade and service climbed. Total retail revenue of consumer goods and services was up 18.99% year on year while the export value climbed 7.18%. Budget revenue reached 84.05% of the estimate.
New rural construction was accelerated, with the increased quality of new rural development criteria and advanced new rural development criteria. Social security policies for people with meritorious services, policy families, poor households, near-poor households and socially protected people were well implemented. Cultural, artistic and sports activities took place vibrantly with a variety of content and forms to create a fresh atmosphere and inspire people at work. National defense and security continued to be consolidated and strengthened. Political security, social order and safety in the province were maintained.
The world economic and political performance has significantly impacted the domestic economy and hindered the province from implementing socioeconomic targets. In that context, what difficulties and challenges has Bac Lieu encountered?
While achieving good results, the province encountered difficulties in socioeconomic development as follows:
Falling commercial shrimp prices amid rising input prices seriously affected profits of farmers. The disbursement progress of public investment capital was still lower than the assigned plan, especially the fund for three national target programs. Industrial production and consumption markets slowed down while product competitiveness was not high. Some industrial products declined, including solar power output, beer and apparel. Although exports picked up, they remained slow. The 9-month export value fulfilled only 67.7% of the full-year plan, mainly seafood products.
Some scientific research results were not used or unsustainably applied. Digital transformation remained slow. The number of unemployed workers declined. Healthcare resources weakened, while modern medical equipment and highly qualified human resources fell short.
Tourism products were monotonous. Tourist destinations provided simple sightseeing services. The experiential nature of tourism products was not high, while unique services were not enough to retain tourists.
Bac Lieu Wind Farm - A beacon of clean energy and a sought-after tourist destination
To overcome this difficult period and ensure economic development and social security, what solutions does Bac Lieu province continue to apply?
Opportunities and challenges, strengths and weaknesses are always existentially intertwined. With its position, strength, determination and most importantly effort, Bac Lieu has persistently transformed to grasp opportunities, promote strengths, address weaknesses and overcome challenges for further development.
In the coming time, to ensure economic development and social security, the province will continue to direct relevant bodies to act more urgently, drastically and effectively to execute goals, tasks and solutions in various fields according to resolutions, programs and plans on socioeconomic development for the 5-year period from 2021 to 2025, with focus on following key tasks and solutions.
First, drastically and effectively implementing goals, tasks and solutions in all fields according to resolutions, programs and plans on socioeconomic development.
Second, developing modern industries and fields with high added value, creating clear and substantive changes in each industry, each field and locality, especially agricultural, industrial and tourism sectors.
Third, carrying out the project “Building Bac Lieu into a national shrimp center”; effectively implementing the Commercial Seafood Catching Program in the Marine Economic Development Strategy; implementing solutions to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing; regularly monitoring meteorological and hydrological situations and synchronously implementing response measures; guiding farmers to apply rice and vegetable production schedules in 2023.
Fourth, speeding up the progress of making the Bac Lieu Provincial Planning, soon submitting it for approval for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050.
Fifth, mobilizing all resources for consistent, prompt and effective implementation of public investment projects, especially economic recovery and development programs as per Resolution 11/NQ-CP of the Government and national target programs; fostering coordination among sectors and localities in site clearance; drastically implementing solutions to speed up fund disbursement.
Sixth, facilitating business development, especially SMEs and foreign-invested businesses; actively removing difficulties and obstacles for production and business.
Seventh, developing human resources, especially high-quality human resources in association with promoting research, development and application of science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, digital economy and digital society; paying attention to comprehensive and synchronous development of cultural and social fields; improving people's lives and ensuring social security.
Thank you very much!
By Viet Huynh, Vietnam Business Forum
Vietnamese
October 2024
Hanoi