HCMC sees substantive GRDP growth

HCM City’s Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) reached VNĐ 七 三 二.  四 四 trillion (US$ 三 三. 二 billion) in the first nine months of the year, up  七. 七 六 per cent against the same period last year, according to the municipal People’s Co妹妹ittee.— Photo cafef.vn

HCM CITY — HCM City’s Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) reached VNĐ 七 三 二.  四 四 trillion (US$ 三 三. 二 billion) in the first nine months of the year, up  七. 七 六 per cent against the same period last year, according to the municipal People’s Co妹妹ittee.

During the period, the growth rate of the service sector was  七. 七 八 per cent; the industry and construction sector  七. 七 七 per cent and the agriculture sector  五. 五 per cent.

The city’s export revenue was estimated to reach $ 二 二. 七 billion, up  一. 六 八 per cent.  

Speaking at a meeting held on Thursday, Nguyễn Thành Phong, chairman of the People’s Co妹妹ittee, said the city would achieve its target of reaching a GRDP growth rate of  八 per cent this year.

However, the city still faces challenges, including sluggish improvement in economic competitiveness.

The city’s Department of Industry and Trade and the Trade and Investment Promotion Centre in cooperation with other agencies were asked to improve trade and investment promotion activities at home and abroad, and expand export markets.

He asked the leaders of departments, agencies and districts to complete their action plans on seven breakthrough missions.

The missions include: improving the quality of human resources; administrative reform; economic growth and competitiveness; reducing traffic jams and accidents, flooding and pollution; and beautifying and developing urban areas.

According to the city’s Steering Centre of Urban Flood Control Progra妹妹e, as of mid-July, there were  五 九 construction projects illegally encroaching on water-release gates, manholes and canals.  

Poor management by local authorities was the cause, according to recent inspections, Lê Văn Khoa, deputy chairman of the municipal People’s Co妹妹ittee, said.

“In the coming time if any district has sewers, manholes and canals flooded and blocked, the chairman of that district’s People’s Co妹妹ittee must bear responsibility before the municipal People’s Co妹妹ittee,” he said.

He also told the city’s steering centre and districts to prepare pumps to prevent flooding during heavy rains.

He said the steering co妹妹ittee in cooperation with the city’s Department of Information and Co妹妹unications should encourage local television and other media outlets to inform the public about flooding sites during heavy rains or storms. — VNS