According to the master plan for Soc Trang socio-economic development till 2020, the industry and trade sector will make significant breakthroughs. Particularly, the development of an enabling infrastructure will open up huge opportunities for new investments.
Ngo Minh Trang, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Soc Trang province, said: In the past six months, the industry and trade sector has faced numerous difficulties like deflationary risks, weakening purchasing power, and production shrinkage. However, under the light of the direction and administration of the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial People's Committee, the coordination of State agencies and localities, and especially the endeavour of businesses, the sector has achieved some significantly encouraging results.
Specifically, the industrial production index marginally increased 0.02 percent over the same period. Industrial production value (fixed price in 1994) was estimated at VND2,975.73 billion, equal to 35.43 percent of the full-year plan and up 0.59 percent from the same period in 2011. Power supply for production and consumption was guaranteed, with commercial power output rising 12.82 percent from a year ago.
Total retail value of consumer goods and services was projected at VND14,857.13 billion in the first six months of 2012, equal to 47.93 percent of the yearly plan and up 23.19 percent from the same period in 2011. The consumer price index slowly increased, totalling 1.27 percent in the first six months, due to effective measures to curb inflation.
Export turnover contracted 7.19 percent from a year earlier, but efforts of exporters were praiseworthy, particularly in the context of falling export prices of rice and seafood, insufficient shrimp supply, and difficult access to bank loans.
Market control is accelerated and centralised to prevent trafficking, smuggling, trade fraud and business abuse.
Industrial promotion was stepped up to catch up with the plan. In the first six months of 2012, the Centre for Industrial Promotion and Development Consultancy deployed 22 out of 40 projects (using VND1.09 billion out of total VND2.34 billion), or 55 percent of the plan, including 20 technology transfer projects and two cleaner production projects. It also advised 39 units and examined nine power project documents.
Speaking of near-term objectives, Trang said, according to the master plan for Soc Trang socio-economic development till 2020, the industry and trade sector will make significant breakthroughs.
Particularly, the development of enabling infrastructure will open up huge opportunities for new investments. By 2020, Long Phu Power Centre (started in 2010) is expected to commence operations of at least one plant (capacity of 1,200 MW) and generate revenues of VND2,800 billion. Besides, with key projects like Soc Trang Port and Tran De Marine Economic Zone, and four industrial zones (funded by the Central Government under Decision 423/QD-TTg dated April 11, 2012), Soc Trang will have a favourable, attractive infrastructure to welcome investors.
These are the basis and objectives for the Soc Trang industry and trade sector to outline appropriate tasks and programmes.
To achieve the above objectives, at present, the Department of Industry and Trade is actively advising the Provincial People’s Committee to approve the industry and handicraft development plan till 2020, with a vision to 2025; district and city electricity development plans for 2013 - 2017, with a vision to 2022; wind power development plan for 2011 - 2020, with a vision to 2030; wholesale and retail network development plans till 2020; and a master trade development plan towards 2025. These projects will be the foundation for the Soc Trang industry and trade sector to deploy industrial and commercial activities, especially realising objectives set for 2015 and 2020.
Anh Thu
Vietnamese
