PM wants pressing issues promptly solved

Phuc stressed that leaders of ministries and local governments should pay more attention not only to economic development but also to social issues.

The relevant ministries, agencies and localities must assume responsibility for these issues and prevent similar problems from repeating in the future, he said.

Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung was cited by the Government news website as saying that the ministry would coordinate with the Ministry of Education and Training to address the relevant issues. Meanwhile, Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha admitted that legal guidelines on creating a safe and friendly learning environment and preventing school violence have yet to be executed strictly.

However, the ministry has drawn up an action plan to seriously deploy the Government’s Decree 80 on school violence prevention, calling for the cooperation of families, schools and society.

A working team will be established to inspect schools and build psychophysiology education programs for students, Minister Nha added.

Regarding the country’s economic performance in the first quarter of the year, the PM hailed the economic achievements despite obstacles seen in the period.

The country’s gross domestic product in the first three months rose 6.79% from a year earlier. The macroeconomy remained stable, with the consumer price index rising 2.63% year-on-year.

The index of industrial production expanded 9.2%. Meanwhile, the total retail sales of goods and services increased 12% between January and March.

In the three-month period, the agro-forestry-fisheries sector continued to post a high growth rate. The seafood sector grew 5.1% over the same period last year, the highest in nine years.

In addition, the country maintained its high export growth path, with revenue reaching US$22.4 billion in March, up 61.1% over the previous month. In particular, domestic firms reported total export earnings of over US$17 billion.

Vietnam enjoyed a trade surplus of US$600 million last month and US$536 million on average in the first quarter of the year.

As for tourism, Vietnam welcomed more than 4.5 million foreign tourists, up 7%.

New foreign direct investment approvals soared 30.9% compared with the same period last year at US$5.1 billion. Foreign firms registered a threefold increase in investment pledged to Vietnam through capital contributions and stake acquisitions.

The first quarter saw more than 28,500 businesses being established and 15,000 others resuming operations. The number of newly established firms in January-March is the highest in five years.

Also, the State budget revenue reached nearly 27% of the full-year target.

Although the global economy is forecast to slow this year, international organizations are still upbeat about Vietnam’s economic growth prospects. In particular, the Asian Development Bank has forecast Vietnam’s economy will expand 6.8% this year, while the World Bank has predicted a growth rate of 6.6%, above the Asia-Pacific region’s average of 6%.

However, the country has faced multiple challenges, including the potential slowdown of the global economy. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development has revised downward the global economic growth forecast from 3.5% to 3.3%. In addition, China, a major trade partner of Vietnam, has shown signs of slowing down.

China’s law on foreign investment has been deemed effective in attracting foreign investment, putting pressure on Vietnam’s foreign investment attraction efforts.

As for local issues, PM Phuc mentioned African swine fever, which has spread to 23 cities and provinces nationwide; price declines of some agricultural products, such as tra fish, rice, pepper, cashew nuts and coffee; and worsening climate change effects and droughts in the Central Highlands and southwestern regions.

He urged the ministries, agencies and localities to do their best to achieve their economic targets and ensure social stability.

He asked ministries to accelerate capital disbursement for public projects as the first quarter of the year saw a drop of 30% in disbursed capital. Of which, the Ministry of Transport reported a decline of 58.5%; the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 55.8%; and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, 22.6%.

Moreover, the period saw credit growth of only 2.28%, while the full-year target is 14%. Therefore, the State Bank of Vietnam must work out solutions to raise capital for production.