In 2022, despite facing numerous difficulties and challenges, particularly epidemics, natural disasters and climate change, the Party, the government and people of Quang Ngai province united and strived, with active and creative approach, to apply solutions for socioeconomic recovery and development and achieved positive results. To learn more about "sweet fruits" the province reaped in 2022, as well as development goals and orientations in 2023, Vietnam Business Forum's reporter has an interview with Mr. Dang Van Minh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.
Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, Chairman of the Appraisal Council, chairs the meeting to appraise the planning of Quang Ngai province for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050
2022 was the second year the province implemented the resolution of the 20th Provincial Party Congress. Could you please introduce some remarkable results of economic development and social security of the province last year?
In 2022, thanks to the ongoing effort of the entire political system, especially the Provincial People's Committee and administration of all tiers of government, together with the cooperation and consensus of the business community and the people, Quang Ngai province achieved positive and comprehensive socioeconomic development results in all aspects. The province was reportedly a strong performer in the country.
The province reached all 25 major socioeconomic targets, including 14 better than the targets set by the resolution of the Provincial People's Council. Notably, its gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth was 8.08% to VND121,668 billion (US$5.2 billion), ranking second among five provinces in the central key economic region, fourth among 14 Northern Central Coast provinces and 18th out of 63 provinces and cities in the country. Per capita GRDP was VND97.67 million (US$4,250). The total retail revenue of consumer goods and services increased by 23.8%. The share of industry, construction and services in GRDP was 68.4%. The export value reached US$2.158 billion and total social investment capital expanded by 50%. In the past year, the province's state budget revenue soared to the all-time high of nearly VND34,000 billion, 44.7% higher than the target assigned by the Provincial People's Council and nearly 80% of the target assigned by the Central Government.
All key plans were carried out as scheduled with expected progress, quality and feasibility, especially Quang Ngai Planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, and the Revised Master Plan for Dung Quat Economic Zone Construction to 2045. The Revised Master Plan for Dung Quat Economic Zone Construction to 2045 was approved by the Prime Minister in Decision 168/QD-TTg dated February 28, 2023 and the Quang Ngai Planning was also adopted by the Provincial Planning Appraisal Council. These are considered extremely important tools to direct and create a corridor for the province's socioeconomic development in the coming time.
In addition, the province's public investment disbursement ranked Top 10 in the country. Land compensation and site clearance for the Eastern North-South Expressway Project - the section through Quang Ngai province - was firmly directed by provincial leaders from the very beginning. Hence, the construction site was handed over as per Resolution 18/NQ-CP of the Government dated February 11, 2022.
The socio-cultural aspect also made much progress. The province effectively carried out social security policies and provided timely support for policy beneficiaries on public holidays and Tet occasions. The total budget for policy beneficiaries was nearly VND1,700 billion in 2022. Quang Ngai successfully controlled the COVID-19 epidemic and promptly supported affected people and businesses. In addition, the administrative procedure reform was strongly accelerated to create an enabling investment and business environment (in 2021, the Public Administration Reform Index (PAR Index) climbed by 24 places and the Vietnam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) jumped up 17 places). Administrative discipline was strengthened; national defense and security was maintained, and social order and safety was ensured.
2023 is a banner year for speeding up goals and tasks of the resolution of the 20th Provincial Party Congress to be obtained. What key solutions has Quang Ngai province proposed to fulfill targets and tasks set for 2023 to realize the resolution of the Provincial Party Congress?
To complete socioeconomic development targets in 2023, right from the beginning of the year, the Provincial People's Committee introduced specific solutions and action programs while directing relevant departments, agencies, branches and localities to effectively perform their assigned tasks, with focus on solving difficulties and obstacles.
In this pivotal year, one of top priorities of Quang Ngai province is to further effectively implement the Government's resolutions, tasks and solutions on socioeconomic development in 2023, socioeconomic recovery and development programs and national target programs; complete land compensation and site clearance for the Eastern North-South Expressway Project (the section through Quang Ngai province); accelerate economic restructuring together with changing growth pattern based on science, technology and innovation to create breakthroughs in productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness improvement. The province will focus on boosting industrial development, diversifying products, prioritizing processing, manufacturing and high-tech industries, green transformation, innovation, digital transformation and circular economy; and speed up agricultural restructuring to raise the share of livestock, organic agriculture, clean agriculture, high-tech application, commodity production, brand and value chain development and response to climate change. The province will restructure the tourism industry to enhance interconnectivity, international integration, brand building and high competitiveness.
Simultaneously, Quang Ngai province will carry out four key tasks and three breakthrough tasks in the 2021 - 2025 period. The province will concentrate on supporting companies and people to deal with difficulties and obstacles to boost production and business activities; further mobilize and effectively use investment resources; access private investment resources, especially stagnated real estate projects; and use the land fund to increase revenue for the state budget; brace up scientific and technological application, foster innovations; and vault ahead in digital transformation, develop the digital economy and the digital society to enable Quang Ngai to develop more strongly in the coming time.
Believing that with the unity and effort of the entire political system as well as the companionship and support of the business community and the people, Quang Ngai province will surely fulfill all targets and tasks in 2023 to build a solid foundation and launchpad for the upward development of the province.
To successfully achieve socioeconomic development goals in 2023, it is very important to focus on unlocking resources, clearing existing "bottlenecks", and accelerating public investment disbursement. How has the province focused on this issue?
In 2022, Quang Ngai stood among the Top 10 provinces and cities with the highest rate of public investment disbursement. In 2023, the province set a higher disbursement target than 2022. Provincial leaders always define this as one of the key political tasks that needs to be prioritized for drastic implementation to make sure that 100% of the assigned fund will be disbursed by December 31, 2023, especially when the fund is bigger than previous years (in addition to the medium-term public investment capital plan for the 2021-2025 period, the province will also receive a public investment fund from the Socioeconomic Recovery and Development Program).
To achieve this goal, the province adopted specific solutions:
First, focus on speeding up and improving the quality of project investment preparations. This is the first step, but a determining factor of project feasibility and investment efficiency.
Second, regularly organize field inspections, periodically hold briefings to urge the progress of fund disbursement, direct the resolution to existing problems, especially in land compensation and site clearance to make projects carried out as scheduled.
Third, resolutely, strictly and promptly handle organizations, individuals, investors and construction companies that work behind schedule; attach responsibility to unit leaders; and use the disbursement rate as one performance review criteria for agencies and units.
Fourth, actively and flexibly adjust capital plans of projects that are behind schedule or have enough capital to supplement fast-moving projects. This is a very important factor to speed up investment disbursement and improve efficient use of state capital.
Thank you very much, sir!
By Cong Luan, Vietnam Business Forum
Vietnamese
