PM Phạm Minh Chính speaks at the meeting with key leaders of the northern mountainous province of Bắc Kạn. VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

BẮC KẠN – Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính stressed the importance of effective resource mobilisation for economic development in northern Bắc Kạn Province, with a specific focus on the forest economy and tourism as two key areas.

Forest economy must prioritise activities such as carbon credit trading, biomass power generation, and pharmaceutical industry development. In terms of tourism, the province should focus on its beautiful landscapes and cultural heritage of ethnic groups.

He made the statement on Sunday while working with the Standing Board of Bắc Kạn Provincial Party Committee to discuss the province’s socio-economic development situation as well as directions and tasks for the future.

"Bắc Kạn should aim to become a province with strong basic foundations for medium-high level development compared to the national average by 2030 and a dynamic economy and a relatively high level of development compared to other localities nationwide by 2050," he said.

Reports from the province showed that in the first six months of this year, the province's GRDP growth reached an estimated 5.7 per cent, ranking 34th out of 63 cities and provinces.

Agriculture and forestry have developed with a forest coverage rate of 73.35 per cent, the highest in the country. The industrial and service sector continued to recover and grow, with a growth rate of 10.8 per cent and 5.14 per cent respectively in the first six months.

Tourism has shown a rapid recovery. The province welcomed 571,000 visitors in the first six months, which was 2.5 times higher than the same period last year, achieving 74 per cent of the annual plan. The total revenue from tourism reached VNĐ400 billion (US$16.91 million).

Despite the achievements, Bắc Kạn still faced many difficulties, especially in terms of incomplete infrastructure and transportation networks.

The disbursement of initial capital and the implementation of national target programmes remained slow. Thousands of villages and hamlets lacked access to the national electricity grid.

The poverty rate remained high, accounting for 24.7 per cent of total households in the province.

To overcome these challenges, Bắc Kạn requested the Government, the Prime Minister, and central ministries and departments to support policies for investment in developing inter-regional roads, providing electricity to remote areas, as well policies to attract non-budgetary investments.

Speaking at the meeting, PM Chính praised the efforts and achievements of the Party, military, and people of Bắc Kạn Province.

However, Chính expressed concerns that the scale of the province's economy remained modest.

He requested the province to continue to fully implement the resolution adopted at the 13th Party Congress, Resolution 96/NQ-CP on the Government's action plan for socio-economic development and ensuring national defence and security in the northern midland and mountainous regions by 2030.

The province must excel in planning and developing infrastructure, considering it a vital political task, complete and submit for approval of the provincial plan for the 2021-2030 period with a vision towards 2050. This should focus on investing in the development of intra-provincial, inter-provincial, and inter-regional transportation infrastructure; promote public investment; and establish industrial clusters and zones, he said.

Bắc Kạn should concentrate on developing efficient and sustainable agriculture as a key driver of the economy. It should maximise the potential and strengths in land resources, climate, clean water sources, and biodiversity to produce agricultural goods. The province should also expand production linkages, apply scientific and technological advancements to enhance value chains.

Additionally, it should develop agriculture and forestry in connection with tourism activities and promote local specialties, One Commune One Product (OCOP), and organic products.

Furthermore, Chính said, the province should support enterprises and cooperatives to promote brands, introduce products, expand the consumer market, improve production and business capabilities, and participate in e-commerce trading platforms.

He noted that Bắc Kạn should establish a pilot model for community-based tourism development, organise cultural, sports, and tourism events that promoted the province's traditional cultural heritage.

"The province should take Ba Bể Lake as the centre and create a tourism product chain," he suggested.

PM Chính directed Bắc Kạn Province to intensify administrative reforms, improve the investment and business environment, and enhance digital transformation while improving the livelihoods of ethnic minority communities.

It should preserve and promote the cultural heritage and traditional cultural values that were characteristic of the ethnic groups and the people of Bắc Kạn, he said.

On the same day, PM Chính and the delegation inspected the suspended glass metallurgy plant of Matexim Joint Stock Company, examined and resolved existing issues, and restructured the investment project to facilitate the resumption of the plant's operations. – VNS