PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc worked with leaders of Quang Ninh. (Photo: VGP)
On May 24, the Government leader visited and worked with leaders of the northern province of Quang Ninh, which is considered a bright spot for socio-economic development of the northeast region and the country with outstanding results in both prevention and control of COVID-19 epidemic and socio-economic development after the pandemic.
Numerous fields topped the country
According to the Provincial Competitiveness Index rankings announced by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on May 5, Quang Ninh still maintained its top position for the third consecutive year.
On May 19, the Government Steering Committee for Administrative Reform announced that Quang Ninh ranked first in the Public Administration Reform Index 2019 (PAR INDEX) and the Satisfaction Index of Public Administration Services (SIPAS) 2019.
As one of the top five contributors to the State budget, Quảng Ninh achieved a gross regional development product (GRDP) growth rate of nearly 11 percent from 2016-2019. The average income per capita topped USD6,100 in 2019, doubling the country’s average.
With tourism gradually becoming a spearhead economic sector, local hotels and resorts of three stars and above now offer 7,500 rooms, up 68 per cent from 2015. The province served 14 million visitors last year, 5.75 million of them were foreigners.
It was also among the best performers nationwide in terms of budget collection with nearly VND163 trillion (USD7 billion) during 2016-2019, and PPP investment attraction with 44 projects worth VND47 trillion.
Recently, Quảng Ninh launched a tourism stimulus package worth VND200 billion to revive domestic tourism after the COVID-19 pandemic is controlled.
Strategy needed to develop tourism as spearhead economic sector
At the session, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc suggested Quang Ninh devise a strategy to develop tourism as its spearhead economic sector, especially in the remaining months of this year and during the new tenure of the provincial Party Organization.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visits the Tran Quoc Nghien sea-bound route in Ha Long city. (Photo: VGP)
He lauded the province for firmly and effectively following the Party and State’s guidelines on COVID-19 prevention and control though the province has a long borderline and hosts a large number of foreigners.
The province was also hailed for making breakthroughs in urban development, reaching over 65%, and becoming the first locality nationwide to set up a public administrative service centre.
PM Phuc expressed his impression on its tourism reboot following COVID-19 as well as infrastructure development with a number of major works, especially expressways under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.
On the occasion, he asked the locality to continue taking the initiative in becoming a development hub not only in the northeastern region but also in the whole northern region, contributing to the country's socio-economic development.
About specific moves, the PM proposed that the province should pay attention to developing businesses, continuing with modern urban development and new-style rural building, as well as human resources training from school to university level to meet demand for socio-economic development.
He noted that the province should thoroughly prepare for the Congress of the provincial Party Organization, towards the 13th National Party Congress, in combination with the Party building work./.