Kien Giang urged to fully tap potential for stronger development

ABO/NDO – Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong has asked authorities of the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang to fully tap its potential and strengths, especially in agriculture and tourism, in order to well perform tasks and orientations set for the locality in 2019.

Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong (standing) speaks at the working session with leaders of Kien Giang province on April 14. (Photo: VNA)

During a meeting with leaders of the province on April 14, Trong requested representatives from relevant ministries, sectors and agencies to discuss and clarify prominent achievements made by Kien Giang, and analyse potential and advantages as well as development orientations, towards fostering the province’s rapid and stronger development in the coming time.

He highlighted the need to pay attention to promoting comprehensive development, saying that the socio-economic development should be the centre, the Party building should be the key task and culture should be the spiritual foundation of the society.

The local authorities were also requested to focus on maintaining defence and security and having good relations with neighbouring countries that share the borderline with Kien Giang.

The top leader asked for strategic orientations, master plans and specific plans for each field, saying that these are necessary to devise polices on investment attraction, goods consumption, infrastructure development, and human resources training.

Reports at the meeting showed that the province’s economy has recorded stable growth with its GDP hitting over VND62.3 trillion (US$2.68 billion) in 2018, 1.23 times higher than that of 2015. The average GDP growth in 2016-2018 stood at 7.13%, while per capita income increased from US$1,664 in 2015 to US$2,094 in 2018. Attention was also paid to the new-style rural areas development movement, helping bring better living conditions of local people.

The sea-based economy accounts for 73.82% of the province's GDP. The service sector grows at an average rate of 11% per annum; and its export turnover surges 17.61% per year.

Tourism has become a spearhead economic sector of the province, with its revenue reaching over VND11 trillion (US$474.5 million) a year, yearly average increase of 23.9%.

Provincial leaders asked the Politburo for direction on the establishment of Phu Quoc city and resolutions on a number of specific policies for Phu Quoc, as well as approve the proposal to set up Tho Chau island district.

(Source: NDO)