Bricks produced at Viên Châu Construction Material Production Joint Stock Company. Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has issued a directive on solutions to promote production and consumption of building materials. — VNA/VNS Photo Tuấn Anh

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has issued a directive on solutions to remove problems and promote production and consumption of building materials.

Building materials include cement, construction steel, tiles, sanitary wares and ceramics, construction glass and others.

The building material industry has been struggling with numerous difficulties in production and consumption, resulting in declining revenue and negative impacts to the economy as well as the country’s industrialisation and modernisation, the directive noted.

The directive pointed out that there is a lack of detailed policies for sustainable development of the industry. It is also facing rising production costs, weak demand from a slowdown in the global economy, disruptions of supply chains and a difficult real estate market.

Many producers of building materials must temporarily halt production due to financial difficulties, resulting in inefficient investment and rising bad debts.

The PM asked for solutions to promote the development of the building material industry in an efficient and sustainable way to meet domestic demand and expand exports of high-value products.

The application of science and technology must be enhanced to produce high-quality products while ensuring the efficient use of natural resources and energy and environmental protection.

Policies should also be created to promote the sustainable development of the building material industry.

The PM asked for debt repayment deadlines to be restructured for producers, along with lowering lending rates.

The industry must actively apply hi-tech solutions and speed up the digital transformation, green transition and circular economy in order to lower production costs and increase productivity as well as the quality and competitiveness of products.

Efforts to prevent smuggling and expand markets for building materials must also be enhanced, the PM stated.

Specifically, the PM asked the Ministry of Construction to improve mechanisms and policies for the building material industries, study technical barriers for imported products and find solutions to promote the development of the real estate market, especially effectively developing at least one million social housing apartments for low-income earners.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade was also requested to submit a development strategy for the steel industry by 2030. — VNS