Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc had a working session with officials of Thanh Hóa on December 23. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

THANH HÓA — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc had a working session with officials of Thanh Hóa on December 23, asking the north central province to carry out industrialisation faster to contribute more to national development.

Local officials reported that in 2018, Thanh Hóa recorded gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth of 15.16 per cent, the fastest-ever pace, with industry and construction making up the biggest proportion in its economy at 44 per cent. Per capita income is estimated at US$1,999, up 1.3-fold from 2015.

With big investments in infrastructure, the province has enjoyed breakthroughs in tourism. It welcomed about 8.25 million tourist arrivals, including 230,000 foreigners, and earned over VNĐ10.6 trillion ($453.7 million) from the sector this year. That has helped the visitor numbers and tourism revenue respectively increase by 14.3 per cent and 27 per cent annually.

Meanwhile, budget revenue rises by about 12.3 per cent each year, reaching some VNĐ23.5 trillion ($1 billion) in 2018 – up 2.1 times from 2015.

PM Phúc said Thanh Hóa has developed rather comprehensively over the past three years. He lauded efforts by provincial authorities and relevant ministries and sectors to put the Nghi Sơn refinery and petrochemical complex, worth $9 billion, into commercial operation.

He also pointed out that local growth has yet to match potential, and the number of big enterprises investing here is still modest.

The most important solution is enhancing unity among authorities and the public since this is the source of strength, he noted.

Aside from accelerating industrialisation, the PM also requested the province to develop important infrastructure systems while expanding forest coverage in western areas and applying science-technology in agriculture.

Stressing the decisive role of human resources, he said if over two million people of working age in the province are well trained, they will become a great driving force of development.

The Government leader also told Thanh Hóa to improve its investment climate, noting that this is “easier said than done”. Additionally, it needs to ensure people will be the biggest beneficiary of investment attraction.

The province has rich culture and history as well as a strategic economic location, which is a great potential that local administration and residents must capitalise on to boost development, PM Phúc added.

Later on December 23, PM Phúc attended a ceremony marking the commercial operation of the Nghi Sơn petrochemical complex.

The Nghi Sơn oil refinery and petrochemical project has been carried out since 2013 with total investment capital of over $9 billion.

It is backed by a consortium of Kuwait International Petrochemical Company (KPC, 35.1 per cent), and the Japanese firms Idemitsui Kosan (IKC, 35.1 per cent) and Mitsui Chemicals (MCI, 4.7 per cent). The rest is contributed by the State-run Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam).

On December 22, the leader visited the special national relic site of Lam Kinh in Xuân Lam Commune of Thọ Xuân District – the hometown of national hero Lê Lợi, who led the Lam Son uprising against the Ming invaders in the 15th century. After the victory of the 10-year uprising in 1428, Lê Lợi became king and named the country Đại Việt.

The same day, the PM visited the Lam Sơn Sugar JSC and the construction site of Thọ Xuân Airport in Thọ Xuân District. — VNS