National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong made the statement during a working session with leaders of the Gia Lai provincial People’s Committee on January 11.

He asked the province to better carry out mass mobilisation and personnel training, preserve and develop the cultural identities of ethnic groups and develop patriotism among young generations.   

“Gia Lai should accelerate economic restructuring towards increasing the proportions of GDP in the industry, construction and services sectors, attract investment, develop infrastructure, better tap its natural resources and cooperate closely with other localities in investment and market expansion,” said Mr Trong.   

The NA chairman was informed that in 2006 Gia Lai obtained an eight-year record GDP growth of more than 13 percent with an annual per capita income of VND6.3 million. The province established large staple and cash crop growing areas and put into operation farm produce processing factories for local consumption and export. In 2006, its total food output reached more than 460,000 tonnes.   

The province also planted forest trees on an additional 4,500 hectares, bringing the total forest coverage in Gia Lai to more than 49 percent, while effectively preventing illegal logging and excessive exploitation of forest products.