6:00:57 PM | 20/11/2014
Situated on the Central Coast of Vietnam, despite poor social and economic infrastructure, Phu Yen province has still managed to achieve robust socioeconomic development and investment attraction. Vietnam Business Forum Magazine has an exclusive interview with Mr Pham Dinh Cu, Chairman of Phu Yen Provincial People's Committee, on remarkable socioeconomic development achievements. Quoc Hung reports.
Could you please brief us on the socioeconomic development results of Phu Yen province in recent years?
After nearly four years implementing the Resolution of the 11th Communist Party of Vietnam Congress, the Resolution of the 15th Provincial Party Congress and the five-year Social and Economic Development Plan (2011-2015), apart from good results, Phu Yen province also faced numerous difficulties and challenges due to global economic slowdown, market price fluctuations, natural disasters, and disease outbreaks. In that context, with the timely support of central authorities, the unity and effort of all elements in the province, Phu Yen achieved many important achievements in economy, culture, society, national defence and security, and political system construction to create momentum for the successful implementation of objectives and tasks stated in the Resolution of the 15th Provincial Party Congress and the 5-year Social and Economic Development Plan (2011-2015), thus contributing to the overall realisation of the Resolution of the 11th CPV Congress. Specifically, the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) rose 10.9 per cent in the 2011-2014 phase. GDP per capita climbed from VND19.6 million in 2011 to VND26.7 million in 2013 and is expected to be VND31.8 million in 2014. The average poverty rate fell by 2.5 per cent per year.
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With an agriculture-based economy and a poor infrastructure system, what solutions has Phu Yen province taken to maintain economic growth and ensure social security?
To maintain the pace of economic development and ensure social security in the context of economic downturn, Phu Yen province has adopted and executed some major solutions like strengthening macroeconomic stability and controlling inflation. The province accelerated three groundbreaking tasks along with changing growth pattern and improving the quality, efficiency and competitiveness of the economy. It also stepped up the improvement of the investment environment and focused on resolving difficulties to boost production and business development and investment attraction. And, the province ensured social security and social welfare and improved people's livelihoods.
We also focused on carrying out consistent solutions and measures to train workers, create jobs, and raise incomes for workers. We paced up the implementation of national target programmes for poverty reduction in the 2011 - 2015 period, guided farmers to develop agriculture, fishery and forestry, and supported the poor to develop production, stabilise income and end poverty in a sustainable manner. The province also increased infrastructure construction investment in poor communes.
In 2008, Phu Yen province set the target of becoming an industrial - service province by 2020. What solutions will the province take to accomplish this goal?
To become an industrial - service province in 2020, Phu Yen has worked out many solutions for socioeconomic development and investment attraction as follows.
One, tapping locally competitive advantages and natural incentives, exploiting strengths of Bai Goc Port and Vung Ro Port, and developing Phu Yen Economic Zone into a growth driver for the province; attracting investment capital into Nam Phu Yen Economic Zone, removing constraints to the construction of petrochemical and oil refining facility and developing petrochemical industry; improving the quality of tourism services, seeking strategic investors capable of building high-end services.
Two, completing infrastructure systems to serve social and economic development, with priority given to transportation infrastructure to serve the development of key economic zones, industrial zones and urban zones; logically and effectively connecting business operations among regions and key economic areas with related localities.
Three, training high-quality human resources, especially the labour force for the development of high-tech and fast-changing tech industries; building Phu Yen University; completing infrastructure and facilities for Vocational College and Medicine College; supporting the Tuy Hoa Industrial College to be upgraded to Central Industrial and Commercial University and supporting the development of Central Construction University; calling investors to invest in high-quality vocational training units; building a strong force of policymakers; training workers based on local market demand; and introducing attractive employment policies to lure talents to work in Phu Yen province.
Four, increasing State budget for export promotion, market research and trade and investment promotion activities in order to attract capital and modern technology to improve local economic competitiveness, with particular priority given to high-tech projects; strengthening the development of small and medium enterprises with the request for the application of new technologies, product diversification for domestic and export markets.
Five, improving provincial competitiveness, stepping up administrative reform and improving the investment climate to attract investment capital; calling for Phu Yen province-originated investors and domestic and foreign investors to do business in the province; continuing the implementation of investment projects under the public private partnership (PPP) model, with the top priority placed on key infrastructure projects; and formulating land-use schemes for economic development.
As a provincial leader, do you have any message to businesses and investors interested in the investment and business environment in Phu Yen?
Phu Yen has a favourable geographical position as it is located on artery traffic routes like National Road 1 running north-south and National Road 25 running east-west, which are interconnected with many other railways, roads and waterway routes to reach Vung Ro Seaport and Tuy Hoa Airport. Thus, the province holds great potential for trade, economic and tourism development. Especially, with a lot of picturesque natural landscapes and historically glorious relics, Phu Yen has a lot of favourable conditions for tourism development. Besides, large marine reserves with many rare species enable Phu Yen to develop marine economy and tourism.
Phu Yen province’s GDP growth has maintained a high speed in recent years. In 2013, the province mobilised VND8,340 billion for socioeconomic development, particularly capital for infrastructure development.
To maintain its growth rate and expand investment in various socioeconomic sectors, from now to 2020, Phu Yen province will provide good incentives and support for domestic and foreign investors. The province is committed to expressing the spirit of responsibility and cooperation to all investors, accompanying investors when they do business in the province, reforming administrative procedures. Besides, Phu Yen always creates the most favourable conditions for investors to study investment procedures in the province.
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