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Ninh Thuan Province adopts ambitious energy, tourism, farming goals

June 14, 2021 by ven.vn

Tran Quoc Nam, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Communist Party Committee and Chair of the provincial People’s Committee

Impressive development indexes have helped Ninh Thuan move ahead to rank among the top five provinces nationwide in terms of economic growth. Which spearhead sectors will the province focus on in the 2021-2025 period?

Given the province’s favorable conditions and difficulties, Ninh Thuan has identified four pillars of the local economy in the 2021-2025 period: (1) renewable and clean energy development; (2) tourism development; (3) building high-tech agricultural zones and farming areas associated with the commodity market; and (4) urban development associated with tourism promotion.

We have surveyed the province’s potential and advantages for renewable and clean energy development and found that it has the potential to generate nearly 20,000MW of electricity from renewable energy sources. Therefore, we have submitted to the government our plan to add about 6,000MW of electricity from renewable energy to the provincial power grid.

With its advantages for solar and wind power, as well as gas-fired and storage hydropower development, and suitable policies and mechanisms of the government and the province, we believe Ninh Thuan will become one of Vietnam’s top renewable and clean energy centers.

Along with exploiting renewable energy resources, we are also promoting urban development in combination with relaxation tourism to create high socioeconomic values.

To promote economic development, Ninh Thuan has appealed to investors to visit the province for surveys. Investors have already developed some large-scale projects in the province, such as the Ca Na Seaport Complex (first stage) of the Trung Nam Group, consisting of two wharfs with 70,000-tonne capacity, expected to be completed this year, gradually forming a logistics network in the province.

Phan Rang garlic is a specialty of Ninh Thuan Province

High-tech and clean agriculture associated with the commodity market is one of Ninh Thuan’s spearhead economic sectors. However, given water shortages and droughts, what kinds of farm produce will be prioritized and will investment in agriculture be promoted?

Ninh Thuan suffers some of the most severe natural conditions and harsh climate in Vietnam. The average rainfall throughout the province is around 700mm per year. The soil is depleted and lacks water due to drought all year round.

Such climatic and soil conditions hinder Ninh Thuan’s agricultural development but enable the province to expand the planting of specific crops such as grape, jujube, onion, garlic, asparagus, and develop sheep breeding. In recent years, the province has paid special attention to improving the quality of its farm products to enhance their competitiveness in the domestic market, paving the way for their presence in the global market.

To achieve this target, we are diversifying farming models and increasing investment in clean, organic and smart farming. Researchers recently launched a new grape variety which is selling well in the domestic market.

We will continue improving farm produce quality through scientific research and technology application, developing clean, organic and smart farming. To do this, we encourage scientists to research and transfer new farming techniques to farmers. For their part, farmers should be determined to learn and apply new technologies.

Ninh Thuan has attractive tourist sites

Tourism is also a major advantage of Ninh Thuan. However, this sector has yet to achieve breakthroughs in development. How will the province promote tourism development and increase its competitive advantages compared with neighboring localities?

A coastal province, Ninh Thuan has both the sea and forests, with special landscapes ideal to develop tourism.

Apart from landscapes, Ninh Thuan is also home to traditional cultures of the Cham and Raglai ethnic groups. The province’s great potential for tourism development remains untapped. Tourism investors have come to Ninh Thuan and are seeking opportunities to invest. We plan to create distinctive tourism products, including leisure tourist sites, tours to discover local culture and experience local farming. The harmonious combination of different tourism forms will make Ninh Thuan a special destination.

Ninh Thuan has great potential for renewable energy development

Which factors will you focus on during your tenure as the Chair of the provincial People’s Committee in order to improve the efficiency of the local administrative apparatus so that it can benefit businesses and people?

In the 2021-2025 period, highlighting the motto “Solidarity, creativity, discipline, development, acceleration, efficiency” and the spirit “Government goes alongside businesses”, Ninh Thuan will mobilize the entire political system to enhance the efficiency of the administrative apparatus at all levels, while at the same time accelerating administrative and institutional reforms, intensifying the application of information technology, and increasing the sense of responsibility in the implementation of public tasks. We will encourage businesses to promote digital transformation to increase productivity, improve quality and enhance competitiveness, keeping pace with global business development trends. Ninh Thuan will also continue improving the investment and business environment to help businesses overcome difficulties and promote creative startups.

Many investors have come to Ninh Thuan, considering it a safe destination. Do you have any message for domestic and foreign businesses?

We are willing to welcome and accompany domestic and foreign investors with our highest sense of responsibility. We will create the most favorable conditions for investors to carry out their projects successfully in Ninh Thuan. The success of investors and businesses will contribute to the province’s development and promote its image as a reliable destination.

A coastal province, Ninh Thuan has both the sea and forests, making it ideal for tourism development.

Hong Ha

Leading companies must take central role in economic recovery, says expert

June 14, 2021 by hanoitimes.vn

The economic recovery will base on large-scale corporations that are capable to deal with current difficulties.

Economist Nguyen Dinh Luong, former Vietnam’s Chief Negotiator of the US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement, in an interview with Hanoitimes talked up the role of industry-leading companies in helping the economy overcome Covid-19.

Economist Nguyen Dinh Luong. Photo: Kinhtedothi

The making of industry-leading companies is seen as a major step towards building a strong business community that could spur Vietnam’s economic growth. How do you view this vision in the current context of the Covid-19 pandemic?

The recent 13 ^th National Party Congress has stressed the significance of promoting the development of strong private and state-owned corporations that are capable of competing at regional and international levels in priority fields.

In the past and present, whenever the country is in a crisis, Vietnamese businessmen have shown their patriotism through specific action, an in this case their role of leading the economy back to the growing trend.

From the economic perspective, what do you think about the importance of these leading companies to the economy?

The Covid-19 pandemic has persisted for nearly two years and caused tremendous hardship for enterprises. A latest survey from the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce on over 10,000 enterprises revealed up to 87.2% of the total are affected by the pandemic.

Layoffs are seen mostly in private enterprises of micro and small size with respective rates of 36% and 35%. The burden to help the economy recover will mainly fall on the shoulder of large-scale corporations, mainly because they still have the resources to deal with current difficulties.

The fact that Vingroup owned by billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong donated four million Covid-19 vaccines to the Ministry of Health; Viettel provided VND450 billion (US$19.5 million) into the Vietnam Fund for Vaccination Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (VFVC); Electricity Vietnam, Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, and Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group each supported VND400 billion (US$17.4 million); demonstrating their strong financial capabilities.

Large scale corporations have strong links with global value chains, and therefore, would recover much faster than their smaller peers when the global economy returns to the growth path, not to mention their much stronger resilience against external shocks.

Should the government focus its support on large-scale enterprises?

Yes, I think so. In 2020, the government focused on freezing and delaying payment of taxes, land rental fees. This year, the business community is expecting more substantial supporting policies to recover and grow in the post-pandemic period.

Large enterprises, making up 80% of state budget revenue sources, are in needed of market opening, policies for production expansion, and easing border control for foreign experts to return.

During the Covid-19 period, Vingroup has set up pharmaceutical company Vinbiocare with registered capital of VND200 billion (US$8.7 million). The firm is actively working with foreign partners to transfer vaccine production technology to Vietnam. Recently, Vingroup has sealed a deal with Singapore-based Breathonix to acquire 30 Covid-19 breath testing systems, the first of its kind in the world, worth VND460 billion (US$20 million).

The system, which has received provisional authorization from Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority (HSA), could produce results with up to 90% of accuracy and in a non-invasive manner. Vingroup is expected to hand over the system to the Ministry of Health upon arrival in Vietnam

I think with a more open vaccine policy, major enterprises could find their own way to save themselves and also contribute to protecting public health.

What measures should the government focus on at the moment?

Enterprises, regardless of their sizes, are facing common issues of market access, working capital, workforce, and supply chains, which the government should take into consideration when drafting rescue packages.

There should also be different scenarios for these packages to be disbursed as quickly as possible once the pandemic is contained. Experiences from the US and other countries show they have set up various pandemic scenarios for each state, city and planned to take actions accordingly.

In this regard, priorities should be given to enterprises that have fulfilled their tax obligation, while the government should provide them with financial support for Covid-19 prevention measures.

Meanwhile, enterprises that have gone bankrupt or suspended operations should be included in social protection packages.

How could the government turn this crisis into an opportunity for stronger growth?

In addition to short-term support, the government should focus on administrative reform by saving costs and expenses for enterprises, especially in investment, trade procedures, and measures to help them gain greater market access.

On the other hand, while there has been a shift in foreign investment capital into Vietnam, measures are needed to strengthen the linkage between local and foreign enterprises, while the domestic market should be the focus of local firms.

Another key issue is the urgency for major economic corporations to embark on the digital transformation process, as this is the key step to help them reduce operational costs during the pandemic.

Thank you for your time!

NA Chairman urges stepping up vaccine strategy

June 14, 2021 by sggpnews.org.vn

Chairing a working session with permanent members of the NA Committee on Social Affairs and several NA organs in Hanoi on June 13, Hue urged the Government to review the efficiency of support packages for laid-off workers and those hit by Covid-19 pandemic to report to the NA in the next meeting.

NA Chairman urges stepping up vaccine strategy ảnh 1

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue at the event (Photo: VNA)

He reiterated the Politburo’s stance on continuing to realise the dual goals of fighting the pandemic and ensuring macro-economic stability and the safety of finance-banking and public debts.

The leader suggested continuing with the 5K technology message, considering vaccination a strategy; and enhancing international cooperation in seeking vaccine supplies.

In order to effectively perform socio-economic development policies and provide support for those hit by the pandemic, Hue asked the Government to soon issue a growth scenario, accelerate the disbursement of public investment, continue improving business environment, developing private and digital economy, and stimulating domestic demand while boosting collaboration to effectively direct fiscal-monetary policy, and soon bring the Resolution adopted by the 13th National Party Congress into life.

Lawmakers reported that the NA and its Standing Committee issued nine resolutions and documents to ease difficulties amid the pandemic.

As a result, payment of VND99.2 trillion (US$4.3 billion) worth of added value tax, corporate and individual income tax, land lease for 57,000 business households and 128,600 firms has been extended, along with VND19.3 trillion in special consumption tax for automobiles last year.