In the reviewed period, the three provinces achieved relative high economic growth rates, with Ninh Binh taking the lead (18 percent), followed by Quang Binh (11 percent) and Thua Thien-Hue (10 percent). Their subsidised and investment capital all increased while the consumer price index stood at low levels.

Mr Dung praised the three provinces for their efforts to curb economic slowdown and maintain industrial and agricultural production. He asked them to iron out snags for businesses to boost production and generate jobs for labourers, considering it a primary solution in the context of the global economic slowdown.

“The authorities should work closely with every business to remove obstacles,” said Mr Dung.

He stressed the need to speed up and monitor the disbursement of investment capital allocated for 2009 and go ahead with the implementation of social welfare policies, with a focus on vulnerable groups.

At the conference, Mr Dung and representatives of the ministries answered the provincial authorities’ questions relating to development projects in their respective localities.

He directed the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment to advance capital to Ninh Binh to carry out projects so that they will be completed on time for the 1,000^th anniversary of the capital city of Hanoi. Hoa Lu in Ninh Binh province is the former imperial capital city of Vietnam in the early 11^th century.

He asked the province to draw up planning for Trang An area to turn it into a large tourist resort in Vietnam.

He agreed with Quang Binh’s proposal to transfer Hon La port to the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group to facilitate the transport of cement and clinker to the south. He allowed the province to use VND100 billion from the State budget to carry out the project if it has rational disbursement plans.

He also gave opinions on an overall master plan for Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park in Quang Binh and a socio-economic development project on Tam Giang lagoon in Thua Thien-Hue province.

VietNamNet/VOV