NGHỆ AN – Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc underscored the need for the central province of Nghệ An to change its thinking about development and optimise its strength to grow.

The Prime Minister made the comments at a meeting with provincial leaders yesterday to review the province’s socio-economic development over the past seven months as well as its three-year implementation of a Politburo resolution which outlines development orientations for the locality to 2020.

Nghệ An should diversify development and resources, especially from the private economic sector, he said.

Economic development must be paired with environmental protection, he said, citing the recent environmental incident related to Hưng Nghiệp Formosa Hà Tĩnh Steel Company as a lesson.

The PM asked the provincial Party Committee to raise the capacity and virtue of local officials and Party members.

The province was also requested to seek sustainable and comprehensive measures to become a centre of the country’s north central region.

PM Phúc praised Nghệ An’s achievements in building new-style rural areas, and maintaining political security, social order and safety.

He, however, pointed to the province’s limitations in carrying out the resolution such as low per-capita income, high poverty rates and low competitiveness.

Nghệ An has failed to create major breakthroughs in socio-economic development, he said.

Leaders of ministries and agencies suggested Nghệ An generate more jobs for local labourers, especially in education and health care, and prioritise investments in infrastructure.

The same day, PM Phúc visited Nam Giang, a new-style commune in Nam Đàn District, where he praised efforts to restructure local agricultural.

While in Nghệ An, the PM inspected the construction of the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park, which began in September last year and visited the Vissai seaport project.

He asked the investors to ensure the quality and progress of the projects, helping boost socio-economic development of the locality and the region. — VNS