Government holds February meeting
Ha Noi, Mar. 5 (VNA) -- Bustling local markets and increased consumer and service indexes in the first two months of this year had a positive impact on the country's industrial production and service, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai remarked.
He made the comment at the government's monthly regular meeting held in Ha Noi on Mar. 4-5.
At the meeting, cabinet members discussed a report on the supplemented appraisal of the Son La Hydro-electric power plant project to be submitted to the National Assembly. They took into deep consideration the following three main issues: the construction site, the plant's capacity, and the plan to mobilise capital for the plant's construction.
The participants discussed the new information and data of the project, and affirmed the government's correct policy on the construction of the Son La hydro-electric power plant as it is of particular importance to the nation's socio-economic development. They placed safety as the top requirement for the project.
The government assigned the Government Office and relevant agencies to complete reports on the project to be presented to the Prime Minister and the National Assembly for consideration at its upcoming 11th session this month.
Also at the meeting, the participants commented on a draft decree which will replace Decree No.44/1998/ND-CP issued on June 29, 1998 on changing State-run enterprises to joint stock companies. They also gave opinions to the Government's presentation on the issuance of documents on the experimental application of a model of foreign-invested joint stock companies.
The government pointed out that allowing foreign-invested businesses to operate as joint stock companies is a new line that has not yet been legalised. Therefore, further study should be carried out carefully to seek the best solution to the issue.
On the country's socio-economic performance in February and in the first two months of this year, the government reported that industrial production had maintained a high growth rate of 14.3 percent in the first two months. Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Ha Tay, Hai Duong, Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Khanh Hoa, Binh Duong and Can Tho provinces had registered high growth rates ranging from 16 to 51 percent.
The country saw a bumper winter-spring rice crop. The aquatic sector posted a 4.8 percent increase over the same period last year. The tourism sector welcomed 442,000 foreign visitors in the reviewed period. The state budget's revenue, which made up 15.7 percent of the annual estimation, saw an increase of 14.1 percent over the corresponding period last year. Development investment sourced from the State budget and foreign direct invesment capital made a fairly high increase.
However, socio-economic development still faced difficulties, the government figured, citing the slow export of goods and decreased price of farm produce. The slow disbursement of ODA and investment capital, rising traffic accidents and a number of unresolved social vices were also problems requiring urgent solutions, the cabinet members added.--VNA
