HẢI DƯƠNG — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has called for the northern province of Hải Dương to adopt a more comprehensive approach to its socio-economic infrastructure and to abandon its "agricultural production mindset" in favour of an "agricultural economic mindset."

During a visit to the province on Wednesday, the Prime Minister also called for a shift from "seeking markets" to "studying markets".

He emphasised the need for continued restructuring of the agriculture sector, with a focus on clean, organic, and high-tech production, as well as the development of concentrated material zones and One Commune, One Product (OCOP) items for the market.

The same day, the PM attended a ceremony to recognise the province’s fulfilment of the new rural development task.

During 2011-21, Hải Dương raised over VNĐ58.3 trillion (US$2.53 billion) to build new-style rural areas, resulting in important achievements in agricultural production.

The province is now home to 178 new-style rural communes, with 43 achieving advanced new rural standards and others meeting exemplary standards.

Twelve districts, cities and towns achieved exemplary status and completed the task. On March 16 last year, the Prime Minister issued a decision recognising the province for completing the task in 2020.

Speaking at the ceremony, the PM stressed that agriculture, farmers and rural areas hold a strategic position in the cause of industrialisation, modernisation, national construction and defence.

The Party and State have issued several important policies and guidelines, setting new rural development as a key, regular and long-term task.

By the end of 2022, all communes of 18 provinces nationwide had achieved the title. The provinces of Đồng Nai, Nam Định, Hà Nam, Hưng Yên and Hải Dương were recognised by the PM for the title, he said.

Chính asked the province to effectively realise the resolution on developing agriculture, farmers and rural areas by 2030, adopted at the fifth plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee. The resolution will contribute to the success of the National Target Programme on New Rural Development.

The PM directed the province to develop education, health care and culture while improving the business environment, simplifying administrative procedures and developing the processing industry and supporting services.

He believed that with a new spirit, motivation, determination and aspirations, Hải Dương would continue reaping achievements in socio-economic development and rural development in the future.

In the afternoon, the PM visited the local social protection centre in Hải Dương City.

The centre is home to 200 staff members who provide care, support, education and vocational training for nearly 477 orphans, people with disabilities and mental illness, and lonely elders.

PM Chính visits the local social protection centre in Hải Dương City. — VNA/VNS Photos Dương Giang

The same day, he held a working session with Ford Vietnam Co. Ltd at its factory in Hải Dương Province.

Ford Motors was one of the first US companies to invest in Việt Nam after the normalisation of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 1995. The company's production line in Hải Dương began operation in the fourth quarter of 1997.

PM Chính visits an automobile assembly line of Ford Vietnam.

With an initial designed capacity of 14,000 vehicles a year, Ford Vietnam in 2020 raised its Hải Dương assembly plant's annual capacity to 40,000 vehicles, generating jobs for over 1,600 workers, making it one of Ford's key plants in the Asia-Pacific region.

Last year, Ford Vietnam contributed more than VNĐ2 trillion (US$84.8 million) to the province's State budget.

Speaking at the event, PM Chính expressed his hope that Ford Vietnam would expand investment in and transfer new technology to Việt Nam and participate in human resources training for Hải Dương and Việt Nam in general.

Việt Nam is committed to creating the most favourable business environment via fine-tuning policies and mechanisms to reduce logistics costs and step up administrative reform while maintaining political stability, security and safety, Chính said. — VNS