Prime Minister tours Quang Ngai province

At a meeting with key provincial leaders on August 9, the Government leader underscored the need for Quang Ngai to develop its services in accordance with market rules. 

It is a must for the province to review the policies and measures in place order to accomplish its socio-economic targets set for 2016, while completing its planning scheme, especially for transport infrastructure, he said. 

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc said the province should continue to give due attention to forestry and fishery despite their moderate contributions to the local GDP. 

In term of investment, Quang Ngai should target projects that can benefit the people, the leader noted, urging the locality to pay more heed to restructuring, afforestation, social welfare. 

While highlighting the province’s strength in maritime economy and industrial parks, as well as its achievements in economic shifting, the PM pointed out an array of limitations in the locality, particularly in agriculture, rural area building and poverty reduction. 

Quang Ngai’s economy depends largely on the performance of Dung Quat Oil Refinery, which contributes to 82 percent of local GDP, provincial officials reported. 

Notably, Ly Son – the province’s only island district – has posted stable socio-economic development with ensured defence and security. Its economy grows by over 16 percent every year with agriculture and aquaculture as major stakeholders. 

The district is also promoting tourism, a potential industry there. 

At the working session, officials from some ministries said though Quang Ngai boasts a number of industrial parks, it still relies on agriculture and Dung Quat Oil Refinery. 

They said the province should make active moves to prevent oil price vagaries that can affect the refinery’s performance and, as a result, influence local residents’ income.

On this occasion, the Government leader visited the Dung Quat Oil Refinery - a national work of economic, political and security significance. The facility has a total investment of over US$3 billion.

In the first seven months of this year, the plant produced 3.99 million tonnes of oil products and contributed VND6.9 trillion (US$310.5 million) to the State budget. 

PM Phuc expressed his hope that the plant will reap more successes and soundly contribute to the implementation of the nation’s socio-economic development tasks in 2016 and the following years. 

He also visited container-based houses piloted by the H.E.L.P social joint stock company. The houses will be used to serve ethnic students in mountainous districts in the province.