The target was announced at a conference in Ho Chi Minh City on August 4, which gathered representatives from the industry and trade departments of 20 southern provinces and cities in order to discuss the trade environment across the region in the first months of 2017.
Reports presented at the event showed that following the continuing growth in 2016, the industrial production of the provinces and cities in the south have achieved favourable conditions in which to flourish. The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) in the first six months of 2017 grew by 8.75%, in comparison to the same period last year, of which Tra Vinh increased by 18.46%, Tien Giang 15.1%, Tay Ninh over 15% and Long An 13.31%.
Nguyen Phuong Dong, Deputy Director of HCMC Department of Industry and Trade, said that in the past six months, local enterprises have had access to supportive policies from the State to actively invest and promote their business plans, thus recording positive growth in comparison to the same period last year.
Specifically, regarding the textile sector, Ben Tre witnessed an increase of nearly by 67%, Tay Ninh over 27%, Vinh Long nearly 19%, and HCMC by 7.4%; for frozen seafood, Bac Lieu is up by 12% and Hau Giang by 6%.
On the development of industrial clusters, there are 119 industrial clusters within the whole region and according to the master plan, by 2020, there will be 359 industrial clusters with an area of 16,271 ha, accounting for 24% in quantity and 33% in area, as compared to the whole country.
Over the past six months, the total retail sales of goods and services in the south reached nearly VND1.1 trillion, up 8.86% over the same period in 2016. Localities with high growth rates include HCMC up 10.2%, Binh Duong increased by 20% and Dong Nai by 11.45%.
According to the assessment, local Departments of Industry and Trade have coordinated with the relevant units in a timely manner to deploy stabilising solutions, ensuring the stable and abundant supply of goods, whilst implementing inspection and control measures to strictly control the market price in the area, avoiding scarcity and sudden price increases.
Localities in the region continue to develop a distribution system in accordance with their master plans to promote the circulation of goods, ensure the balance of supply and demand, stabilise the market and contribute to the development of trade in the direction of civilisation and modernity.
Deputy Chairman Le Thanh Liem of HCMC People’s Committee said that the southern region includes 20 provinces and cities and account for more than 60% of the industrial value and 57% of the value of goods and services of the whole nation. Over the years, the provinces and cities in the region have been continuously developing and promoting their advantages.
Liem also suggested that in the context of increasing integration and competition, linking and connecting localities in order to fully tap into the potential of their regional advantages is an important issue.
Accordingly, the localities need to promote links in investment promotion and market expansion, under the guidance of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, to promote the advantages of each locality, thereby supporting capacity building and competitiveness for all businesses in the region.
In agreement, the leaders from the provincial Departments of Industry and Trade said that it is necessary to strengthen the links between localities to support regional planning, promote goods circulation and improve the quality and output of local products, while strengthening coordination on improving market inspection and control and food source management.
The delegates also stated that the links would help to facilitate forecasts on market demand, thereby helping businesses and local people to develop suitable plans for production and business operation, therefore enhancing their competitiveness.
