Concerted efforts for sustainable growth

Party Chief  Pham Van Ranh visits a farm which adopts hi-tech in Lam Dong Province to apply in Long An Province later (Photo: MHD)

The National Congress of the Party has set goals including the average rate of economic growth in the tenure of up over 9 percent, per capita income of VND80-85 million ($3,523) annually by 2020, the rate of poor households below 3 percent, and half of communes achieving the government’s rural plan. The highlight is two breakthrough programs and three major construction works with determination to build up foundation to create incentives and opportunities for sustainable and fast development.

For two years, Long An Province has implemented the goals with advantages and difficulties. Climate change plus disease outbreaks have damaged the agriculture. Additionally,  negative effects of resettlement,  immigrant laborers, social evils, environmental pollution, slow progress of some investment projects are barriers for the province’s growth.

However,  with its determination and strong start after the National Congress of the Party, series of measures have been adopted synchronously in all sector. What the province has achieved has proved the strength of the national solidarity in overcoming barriers and challenges under the lead of the party and locals’ concerted efforts.

By right economic re-structuring including considering industry development as a breakthrough in the province’s modernization for two years, industry  and construction sectors are becoming impetus for the province’s economy development which maintained high. Moreover, investment promotion in and outside the country showed its effectiveness.

So far, 32 industrial parks and groups of industrial parks are filled with the rate of 74 percent; of which, over 9,500 local enterprises with total registered capital of VND224 trillion ($9.8billion) and 874 foreign-invested projects have registered capital of $5.5 billion. There have been more new investment attracting regulations but above all, at present, the province restricted investment of enterprises using backward technologies to reduce environmental hazards.

Furthermore, through development plan in the province’s key economic zones, many big investors have paid attention to and agreed to pour investment in. Many of whom proposed investing in infrastructure especially traffic infrastructure with huge investment compared to the province’s budget. This is pivotal step to boost socioeconomic growth in next time.

Accordingly, traffic infrastructure in important economic zones and in the National Congress of the Party have positive accomplishment as most of them have been implemented and in fast progress contributing to the industry development of key economic zone of the province.

Commercial and service are also attributable to the province’s development. Networks of supply and distribution of commodities have been expanded to distant districts, border crossings with more forms of banking, insurance, transportation, and telecommunication.

Convenient traffic facilitates Long An’s socioeconomic development (My Loi Bridge connects Long  An and Tien Giang province ) (Photo: Ton That Hung)

After a time, the port in Long An officially opened and worked effectively. The port has witnessed the export of the first batch of safe chicken meat to Japan. Also in 2017, Long An sold the first batch of dragon fruit to Australia. This marked Vietnam’s agriculture growth by expanding its agricultural markets to nations which have strict standards of food safety.

Along with this, tourism promotion activities have more renovations; for instance the establishment of eco-tourism Lang Sen or float village Tan Lap as well as opening of historical and cultural monuments. These destinations are Long An’s attraction for local and alien visitors.

In the agriculture field, province leaders are determined to carry out synchronous measures aiming to increase adoption of hi-tech in agriculture restructuring; till now, farmers and administrators have clearly recognized the benefit of hi-tech application in agriculture; therefore, projects of hi-tech adoption have been implemented without delay. Zones for growing rice,  dragon fruits, vegetables, cattle for meat have been set up and areas specializing for growing lemon, bananas and breeding fish proved to generate profit.

Present in world market, dragon fruit helps increase farmers' income

Makers are thinking to amend mechanism and policy to build models to multiply as well as enhancing talks to enterprises for solving problems in selling agricultural produce. The province’s efforts were rewarded with good achievements in production and building value chains to pave the way for the province’s agriculture sector overcoming difficulties in manufacturing and for more stable growth.

All corners in Long An from rural district to town have changed a lot with more civilized and cleaner surface marking its capacity to make breakthrough in implementation of the government’s rural plan attaching with urban development in sustainable way. Medicine, education, poverty reduction, employment and social security have seen improvements; accordingly, residents’ living condition is raised. Locals in drought district no longer worry about shortage of water for daily activities and for agriculture thanks to determination of administrations and sectors in Can Duoc and Can Giuoc.

Noticeably, traffic infrastructure gradually is complete and expanded widely with the contribution of investors and people beautifying surface of remote districts.

In the period 2016-2017, administrators changed their behaviors for better services. They are strictly carrying out the build of good politic machinery as per the fourth central resolution along with learning and following Uncle Ho’s morality and ethics with the aim to change members of the Party’s living style and political opinion creating trust amongst people in the province.

Party chiefs in districts to grass-root units should usually have talks to people on the public concerns or breakthrough programs so that they can understand arising problems in reality to solve difficulties basically. The relationship between the Party, local governments and residents is always mentioned to ensure party members and employees in state agencies to respect, understand and assume responsibilities to residents so as to strengthen solidarity in the community for socioeconomic development.

All above-mentioned achievements created the beautiful picture of the province’s economy and society. Amongst them, index of accomplishment in all sectors is important marks. Economic growth rate maintained positive; for instance, the economic growth rate in 2016 is 9.05 percent while it is 9.53 percent in 2017. Sixty-six communes have accomplished the government’s rural plan with per capita income of VND50.4 million a year in 2016 and VND61 million in 2017.

Over one million visitors arrived in Long An in 2017 generating revenue of VND485 billion; collection for state budget increased by 25 percent annually with total collection of VND12,300 billion last year exceeding the plan adding Long An into the group of provinces with collection of state budget over VND10 trillion.

Long An has an advantageous geographical location between the South East and the Mekong delta connecting with Ho Chi Minh City and convenient traffic and port, Long An has potential to receive more investment in industry, urban, commercial -service, tourism and hi-tech agriculture. The province will go forward fast if it knows how to catch the opportunity and reform policies.

In 2018, all sectors and agencies should strictly follow Uncle’s Ho teachings and the resolution on revamping the Party activities and members’ style. Role of leaders must develop at the best to create changes in entire political machines.

This year is the third year to implement the province’s tenth Party resolution and the basis for accelerating. The province will surely face difficulties in its way yet the party and residents will together overcome it to build Long An more beautifully./.

Party Chief  Pham Van Ranh - Translated by Uyen Phuong