Along with the overall development achievements of Ninh Thuan province, the industry and trade sector continued to achieve significant growth in major indicators. Vietnam Business Forum interviews Mr Nguyen Thanh Hoan, Director of Binh Thuan Department of Industry and Trade, on development achievement orientations of the sector. Luan Nguyen reports.
Could you please talk about the achievements in industrial, commercial and service development in 2011?
In 2011, living through challenges arising from economic slowdown, Ninh Thuan province’s industry and trade and sector attained very positive results. All growth indicators advanced. Particularly, industrial production value reached VND1,705 billion, up 17.5 percent from 2010; domestic trade revenue topped VND7,873 billion, up 23.2 percent; exports valued US$72 million, up 53.42 percent; and imports were worth US$20.9 million, up 87 percent. Infrastructure in industrial parks and industrial complexes was invested. Some industrial complexes like Thanh Hai and Thap Cham attracted a lot of investors. Market and distribution systems were developed province-wide to meet local consumer demand for goods. The province quickly supported companies to expand production, export and carry out their projects. It also intensified inspection on market situations to regulate prices and send goods to countryside areas. The province’s key exports like cashew nuts, seafood and garments reached the largest consumer markets in the world like the US, the EU, Russia and China.
How has Ninh Thuan province supported local businesses to enhance export capacity and competitiveness to boost exports?
To support local enterprises to improve export capacity and competitiveness, we actively organise trade exchanges and business matching conferences for them to seek business partners and suppliers, encourage them renovate their equipment, and apply advanced science and technologies to enhance production value. Besides, we actively assist them in participating in trade fairs and exhibitions to seek opportunities to expand markets, especially export markets.
As regards investment promotion and attraction activities, the province has focused on demonstrably capable investors having new, modern technologies and equipment, using local materials, and using environment-friendly methods. It has also focused on developing human resources and applying preference treatments to investors using high-quality human resources and protecting the environment. These are seen as breakthrough solutions to enhance competitiveness and export capacity for industrial companies in the coming years.
Additionally, Ninh Thuan has also strengthened development cooperation with other provinces (like Lam Dong, Binh Thuan, Khanh Hoa and Phu Yen), raising regional cooperation to exchange information, develop e-commerce and promote domestic and foreign investment. At the same time, it has promoted overall cooperation, while overcoming damages and restrictions to improve the competitiveness of local exports.
According to the Ninh Thuan master socioeconomic development plan through 2020, the province advocates the development of processing industries vital for international economic integration, trademark building and global production chain involvement. To achieve these objectives, what measures will the province take?
To develop locally advantageous processing industries, the province has worked out a highly adaptable socioeconomic development master plan, based on the development conditions of specific industrial sectors and development periods. The agricultural, forest and aquatic product processing industry is a strength for the province, but its development is linked local material development, advanced scientific and technological application, and equipment and machine renovation to increase added value, enhance competitiveness, and expand consumer markets, particularly export markets. At the same time, we focus on attracting investors with modern equipment, innovative technologies and environment-friendly methods. We also help businesses resolve their difficulties, encourage them use new technologies and equipment to expand production scales and diversify product categories.
Ninh Thuan province expects that industrial sectors will contribute 12 percent to local GDP and generate 13 percent of jobs by 2020. What has the province done toward achieving these targets?
To bring the contribution of industrial sectors to the GDP to 12 percent by 2020, Ninh Thuan province announced the socioeconomic development master plan and organised investment promotion conference on December 10, 2012. The locality planned to focus on developing locally advantageous processing industries like salt production (industrial salt, high-grade salt, iodised salt, etc.), post-salt chemicals, food and drink processing, and mineral processing. Besides, it calls investment for clean energy projects (wind power) and supporting industries.
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