The Government is listening and discussing the supplemented report on the implementation of the socio-economic development plan in 2015 and the socio-economic development in 2016; and the realization of Resolution 01/NQ-CP.
The Government members will debate the supplemented report on State budget spending in 2015, the implementation of State budget estimate in 2016; saline intrusion in the Mekong Delta, droughts in the Central region and Central Highlands.
Regarding the socio-economic performance in 2016, the Ministry of Planning and Investment reported that the supply of goods and services was abundant and market prices were stable during and after Tet. Industrial production and trade activities declined in the first two months due to the nine-day-long Tet holidays but still expanded in compassion with the same period last year.
The number of foreign visitors surged. Total retail sales of goods and services were on the rise, showing signs of increasing purchasing power and aggregate demand. Credit growth also soared. FDI attraction attained positive outcomes. The disbursement of FDI, ODA, and preferential loans were higher than the same period last year.
Welfare policies were conducted properly especially for people with merit, the poor, ethnic minorities, people in remote, island, border areas. Political security and social order were maintained. However, besides the achievements, severe cold weather in early February caused serious damages to plants and livestock in Northern provinces; saline intrusion happened in a vast area in the Mekong Delta; droughts occurred in the South and Central Highlands. In addition, traffic accidents still took place complicatedly.
The Government leader urged the counsellors to take every opportunity to remove trade barriers and limit anti-dumping lawsuits. The counsellors should provide more information about their host countries to Vietnamese businesses, protect their interests and propose expanding their list of export items in each individual market, he said.
Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang said the conference aims to popularise guidelines of the 12 th National Party Congress on increasing foreign trade activities at a time when Vietnam is integrating deeper into the regional and world economies.
The event is expected to help Vietnamese businesses maximise opportunities afforded by free trade agreements to which the Southeast Asian country is a signatory, the official added. At the same time, the conference helps the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) tighten its coordination with other ministries, agencies and localities to fulfill the Government’s economic development targets, he said.
The minister suggested the counsellors make proposals to the Government, the Prime Minister, ministries, agencies and localities while working with businesses to seek solutions. Delegates at the event heard reports on the foreign market, foreign investment in Vietnam and Vietnam ’s overseas investment. They also debated issues regarding international economic integration, trade promotion, competitiveness, international cooperation in industry, energy and agriculture, as well as measures to spur the country’s exports.
Hailing commercial affairs offices’ contributions to the success of the industry and trade sector, MoIT Deputy Minister Tran Tuan Anh suggested they focus on export promotion. The offices should target promising markets, attach more importance to the industrial sector and make the best use of opportunities brought about by the integration process, he said.
Within the framework of the conference, the delegates had a working session with representatives from the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to discuss how to lure more foreign investments in the farming sector and promote produce exports.
