Local authorities propose to remove difficulties in investment and construction for "dual goals"

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Hanoi wants to ensure the target of 60% urbanisationby 2025. Photo: H. Diu

Hanoi wants to increase the number of new urban areas

Speaking at the conference, Hanoi City People's Committee Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung said the people of the capital highly appreciate and strongly believe in the leadership and direction of the Party, the State and the Government, especially in pandemic prevention, social security and post-Covid-19 economic development.

Based on the forecast of the world situation, the growth scenario of the country and the situation of production and business in the first sixmonths, the city built two growth scenarios for the last six months to direct, administer and improve GRDP growth rate 1.3 times higher than the national growth rate and collect sufficient budget according to estimates assigned by the Government.

However, to complete the tasks, Nguyen Duc Chung proposed the Prime Minister direct the General Statistics Office to calculate the growth results for the first ninemonths and estimate 2020 for provinces and cities, including Hanoi to evaluate the results of 2016-2020 and set targets for 2021-2025, timely update the Political Report for the Congress.

The leadership of Hanoi also proposed the Government establish a Government Steering Committee for socio-economic development after the pandemic like the Steering Committee on epidemic prevention and control, directing economic development - society as well as help localities develop more effectively.

In addition, to stimulate the domestic market, Chung said the city will prepare 10-15 sales areas to invite provinces to bring enterprises with agricultural, forestry and aquatic products. All sales areas will be free.

Chung also proposed the Prime Minister allow Hanoi to select investors, build some new urban infrastructure and areas to ensure the target of 60% urbanisationby the year 2025.

Troubleshooting for investment

Nguyen ThanhPhong, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, also proposed solutions to ensure the dual goal, both to combat the Covid-19 pandemic and to develop the economy.

Delegates attend the Government's online conference with localities. Photo: VGP

Phong said that Article 89 of the Law on Public Investment 2019 stipulates the total remaining investment capital of projects that have decided to invest in 2016-2020 transitions through 2021-2025 do not exceed 20%.

Given that this provision causes difficulties for localities, Phong proposed that the Prime Minister promptly remove difficulties andaccordingly, the provisions on transitional capital in Article 89 will begin to apply for the medium term 2026-2030.

Besides, Ho Chi Minh City leaders proposed the Prime Minister consider removing difficulties, directing the Ministry of Planning and Investment to early announce total public investment capital for 2021-2025, to help Ho Chi Minh City and other localities. Other methods of appraisal and allocation of capital to build medium-term public investment plan.

For HaiPhong, Nguyen Van Tung, Chairman of the City People's Committee, hoped the Government would soon formulate regional plans in accordance with the Planning Law, as a basis for localities to promote links and cooperation in development.

Tung also suggested that the Government decentraliseto localities to actively convert more than 10 hectares of rice land into industrial production, services and construction of resettlement areas. It is suggested the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Construction soon approve local adjustment of the city’s construction planning for a number of locations on Cat Ba Island to build tourist infrastructure.

Along with that, HaiPhongalso asked the Government and Ministry of Planning and Investment to soon approve jobs related to infrastructure investment in industrial parks in the area.

For Da Nang, Huynh DucTho, Chairman of DaNang People's Committee, proposed that the Prime Minister direct relevant departments and agencies to quickly deploy and guide Da Nang to implement the model of urban government approved by the National Assembly.

According to Tho, the implementation of this model is in need of a lot of guidance from the Government and ministries about specific mechanisms and policies. Currently, Da Nang is implementing Decree 144/2016/ND-CP stipulating a number of specific mechanisms on investment, finance, budget and management decentralisationfor Da Nang from 2016, but a lot of content is no longer relevant and outdated.

In addition, Da Nang proposed the Prime Minister approve the policy for DaNang to build Lien Chieu port, relocate the railway station, upgrade the DaNang international airport,as well as considering removing legal difficulties of many previous projects of the city.

Thoemphasisedthat difficulties and obstacles that cannot be solved and addressed will continue to affect the city's socio-economic development.

With the same problem, Le QuangManh, Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee, also proposed power projects are being paid a lot of attention by investors, so the Government and central ministries and agencies should have solutions to consider and approve soon.