On October 11, in Phu Quoc City (Kien Giang Province), the Ministry of Industry and Trade coordinated with the People's Committee of Kien Giang Province to organize the 10th Conference of Industry and Trade of Southern Provinces and Cities in 2024.
Speaking at the conference, Ms. Phan Thi Thang - Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade - said that 2024 was identified by the Government as a breakthrough year, a pivotal year for the whole country and localities to strive to successfully implement the 5-year socio-economic development plan for the period 2021 - 2025. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has also focused on organizing and implementing drastic and specific implementation right from the beginning of 2024 of action programs to implement major policies and guidelines of the Party and State, which have had an impact on changing the socio-economic situation and activities of the Industry and Trade sector.
Ms. Thang emphasized that the Southern region is the locomotive of the country's economic development, developing dynamically, with high and sustainable economic growth; taking the lead in the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country; the focal point in integration, expanding trade, and effective economic cooperation with countries in the Southeast Asian region and the world.
At the conference, delegates discussed and exchanged experiences to resolve difficulties and obstacles related to state management of local departments and branches, thereby proposing solutions to promote production and business, create links, support and cooperation in the development of the Industry and Trade sector in each province, city and the whole region.
In the first 9 months of 2024, the industrial production index of the provinces and cities in the Southern region still maintained a growth rate compared to the same period in 2023. 6/20 provinces and cities had a higher growth rate than the average growth rate of the region. There are 111 industrial clusters (ICs) with a total area of 5,140 hectares in operation, attracting about 1,618 investment projects in production and business with a total registered investment capital of more than 73,800 billion VND; creating jobs for more than 162,800 workers, mainly local workers. However, the number of ICs with wastewater facilities in operation is still low (48/111 ICs), accounting for more than 43%.
Total retail sales of goods and service revenue in 12/20 provinces and cities grew at a high rate and higher than the average growth rate of the region, led by Kien Giang +22.96%. The export turnover of goods in the Southern region is estimated at more than 108 billion USD, with a high growth rate compared to the same period, led by Tay Ninh +48.90%.
In the coming time, based on the planning approved by the Government, localities will urgently review and supplement strategies, projects, plans and plans for the development of economic sectors, especially the Industry and Trade sector, to integrate into the provincial planning. Proactively study regional and national planning to promptly adjust the provincial planning immediately after it is announced (if unreasonable points are found), to serve as a basis for the implementation of investment projects in general. Especially to welcome investment projects from the national investment program.
Localities continue to strongly develop production areas, industrial parks, economic zones, and industrial clusters to be more proactive in domestic raw material supply; have mechanisms to encourage domestic production of components and intermediate products to replace imports.
Encourage economic sectors to innovate technology, prioritize clean technology, develop industries with high technology content, high added value, export production, supporting industries, agricultural, forestry and fishery processing industries, etc. to contribute to improving production capacity and product quality and design.
