At the meeting, local authorities briefed the Deputy Prime Minister about the province’s socio-economic development in the first half of 2010.

The local leaders proposed that the government should allow the Vietnam Steel Corporation to build a 500,000-1,000,000-tonne capacity steel company in the province.

Deputy PM Hung also heard a report about a project to build a high-tech industrial park in Long My district.

Mr Hung said that relevant ministries and departments have ratified the project and the province needs to have a detailed plan for changing the agricultural structure and to clarify relations between the state, farmers, businesses and scientists in order to maintain rice growing areas at the highest level.

Deputy PM Hung urged ministries and departments to solve the problem of low rice selling price and provid Hau Giang with preferential loans to continue implementing necessary construction of transportation and dyke systems, schools and hospitals.