PM Phạm Minh Chính presents the first-class Labour Order of the Party and State to the Party organisation, administration and people of Ninh Thuận in recognition of their outstanding contribution to renewable energy development. —VNA/VNS Photo

NINH THUẬN — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has urged Ninh Thuận Province to further exploit its advantages to become a major renewable energy hub.

He was speaking at a ceremony to mark the 30th re-establishment anniversary of the south central province (April 1, 1992-2022) on Saturday.

The Government leader praised the efforts of the Party organisation, administration and residents of Ninh Thuận to optimise the locality’s advantages to develop renewable energy, maritime economy and tourism.

He also lauded the province’s achievements in controlling COVID-19 and maintaining high economic growth at 9 per cent in 2021, ranking fourth among 63 localities nationwide and first in the north central and central coastal region.

However the PM underlined that there remained great work for Ninh Thuận to realise its goal of becoming a rich province, especially in completing the infrastructure system, reforming economic structure, improving human resources quality, attracting investment, and strengthening science-technology application in agriculture, services and tourism.

He suggested that Ninh Thuận should promote the solidarity and consensus among the Party organisation, administration and residents to effectively implement the resolutions of the 13th National Party Congress and the 14th provincial Party Congress as well as relevant plans and strategies.

The province should reshuffle its administrative system to improve working efficiency, he said, asking for it to strongly improve its investment environment and actively remove difficulties facing businesses and local residents, while encouraging startups.

PM Chính also directed Ninh Thuận to diversify social resources and restructure its economy in line with the reform of growth model, while giving greater attention to infrastructure building and calling for investment in the form of public-private partnership.

He reminded Ninh Thuận to maintain a balance between economic development and the protection of the ecological environment, while ensuring social welfare and improving its capacity in climate change response.

He asked ministries, sectors and agencies to assist Ninh Thuận in becoming an attractive destination of Việt Nam in the future.

At the ceremony, the PM presented the first-class Labour Order of the Party and State to the Party organisation, administration and people of Ninh Thuận in recognition of their outstanding contribution to renewable energy development.

Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyễn Đức Thanh highlighted the strong growth of Ninh Thuận over the past 30 years with comprehensive achievements.

Last year, the province's gross regional domestic product (GDP) expanded by 69.6 times compared to 1992, with average growth rate of 8.14 per cent per year, higher than the country’s average. Total social investment also increased by more than 440 times in the period.

The ratio of poor households reduced from 14.93 per cent in 2016 to 4.57 per cent in 2021, he said.

The provincial leader said that Ninh Thuận was striving to become a renewable energy hub in 2025 and a locality with upper middle-income of the country in 2030.

Later the same day, PM Chính visited a number of social and economic projects in Ninh Thuận. 

Visiting Sông Cái reservoir project of the Tân Mỹ irrigation system in Bác Ái District's Phước Hòa Commune, the Government leader said the project had basically met irrigation demand in the region. He asked agencies and local authorities to study to improve the efficiency in the exploitation of the reservoir, including examining the possibility to develop solar energy as the reservoir is located far from the national power grid; and develop tourism and aquaculture while ensuring the living conditions of local residents. 

PM Chính also requested promotion of the development of traffic infrastructure and make use of the water sources to develop crops and domestic fowls. 

Visiting a green economy complex which produces clean salt and renewable energy with a capacity of 500MW in Thuận Nam District, invested by BIM Group, PM Chính said this was a new model in producing salt and solar and wind power on the same area. He voiced support for innovation and asked local authorities and businesses to study to expand this model.

The PM also visited Cà Ná port and heard a report about the development of a key southern economic area of Ninh Thuận Province. As planned, the project will be an economic complex which will accommodate a deepwater port, logistics services and industrial zones.

He said the construction of the complex must base on science and technology and innovation, adding that it should initially build local planning in connection with the whole province, region and the country; develop strategic infrastructure; mobilising resources, particularly public-private investment; and simplifying administrative procedures to draw more investment. — VNS