|
Delta province sets ambitious growth targets
The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of An Giang has set ambitious growth targets for the next five years, including an annual 12.5 per cent increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 15.8 per cent growth in construction and industry sectors, and 3.2 per cent rise in the number of agriculture, forestry and aquatic products.
The figures were set out in a new report recently issued by the provincial People's Committee.
According to the report, to reach such goals, the province by 2015 should achieve total export value of US$1.2 billion, social investment of VND162 trillion, and per capita GDP of VND46.4 million ($2,200).
The province also said it expected to train 50 per cent of workers and lower the number of poor households to 5 per cent.
To help reach the targets, six key programmes will be developed during the period.
The programmes involve the development of agricultural production, rural areas and farms, infrastructure and labour force, as well as state administration reforms, natural resources and environment protection, and investment and trade promotion.
Lam Minh Chieu, chairman of An Giang People's Committee, said the main policy was to achieve rapid, sustainable economic growth while ensuring social progress and environmental protection.
"The province will also focus on economic restructuring in ways that makes the economy develop effectively and with high quality," he said.
Active global integration, export promotion, improvement of education quality and living standards, hunger elimination and poverty reduction, and job creation will also be important goals.
In addition, the provincial People's Committee has recently approved an investment, trade and tourism promotion programme for the period of 2011-15.
Under the programme, the province will actively call for both foreign and domestic companies with strong financial potential to invest in key projects, according to a representative of the An Giang Trade and Industry Department.
The projects include the construction of Cau Tho-An Giang-Phnom Penh Highway and An Giang Airport, upgrading of My Thoi Seaport and trade and service centres in Long Xuyen City and Chau Doc Town, as well as tourism areas in Chau Doc Town, and Tinh Bien and Thoai Son districts.
The programme also aims to develop logistics services in combination with the upgrading of the local sea and river port system; expand traditional markets; find new markets at home and abroad; and develop cross-border trade activities to increase export-value growth.
In the tourism area, An Giang hopes to become an important tourism site by 2020. To do this, the People's Committee's investment, trade and tourism-promotion programme, An Giang, HCM City and Cambodia will begin tours to three localities as well as on the Mekong River.
In 2010, An Giang's per capita GDP is predicted to be VND21.2 million, 2.4 times higher than the 2005 figure. Its export value is estimated at $700 million with its two biggest export earners, rice and seafood.
As of July, the province attracted 372 investment projects with combined capital of 16.5 trillion, including 10 foreign-invested projects worth a total of $42 million.
The local tourism industry achieved an annual growth rate of 10 per cent over the last five years. In 2009 alone, it received 4.7 million visitors.
vietnamnews
|
