An Giang(VNA) - President Tran Dai Quang has urged authorities of the Mekong Deltaprovince of An Giang to focus on improving the quality of infrastructure planningfor socio-economic and urban development, and effectively mobilising and usingresources to promote its rapid and sustainable economic development.

During a working session with provincial leaders on August 19, President Quang askedthe province to pay more attention to training human resources, speeding up administrativereform, improving the investment environment and enhancing scientific and technologicalapplication in agriculture and processing industry.

He also asked for An Giang to invest more in developing infrastructure of industrialparks and transport infrastructure, form regional connectivity and accelerate thebuilding of new-style rural areas.

The State leader stressed the need for An Giang to reform its agricultural growthmodel, change the structure of agricultural production, promote the developmentof hi-tech agriculture, and devise policies to encourage enterprises to investin the field of farm produce preserving and processing, towards creating high-valueagricultural products.

It is also necessary to pay heed to preventing and overcoming landslides,minimising impacts caused by saline intrusion and water shortage andcontrolling diseases in cattle and poultry, he noted.

President Quang requested An Giang to effectively implement a the Politburo’s Resolutionon developing tourism into a spearhead economic sector by calling forinvestment in infrastructure development for tourism, and efforts to promote theprovince’s tourism potential and landscapes, thus attracting both investors andtourists.

He emphasised that An Giang must focus on building strong and comprehensivearmed forces; well implementing the coordination mechanism among forces in safeguardingnational sovereignty, border security and security in the fields of ethnicityand religion; as well as enhancing the efficiency of foreign affairs with localitiesof neighbouring countries, thus helping to build a boundary of peace andfriendship.

The President also requested An Giang authorities to strengthen the Party building;promote the campaign of studying and following the thought, morality and lifestyle of President Ho Chi Minh; build a transparent and professional public administration;and foster administrative reform to make it easy for investors’ production andbusiness activities.

With nearly 100 km of border lines shared with Kandal and Takeo provinces of Cambodia,An Giang has a strategic position in terms of defense-security in thesouthwestern border  region and it isalso one of the four provinces lying in the Mekong Delta region’s key economiczone.

In2017, An Giang’s GRDP growth reached 5.11 percent with GRDP per capita hittingover 34.3 million VND per year. The province’s budget revenue posted ayear-on-year increase of 13 percent and its export turnover reached 820 millionUSD.

In the first half of 2018, the GRDP growth stood at 6.1 percent, higher thanthe same period of many previous years; and its investment attraction alsorecorded positive results.

So far, 33 out of 119 communes in An Giang have met criteria of the National Target Programme on New Rural Development,and the rate of poor household reduced to only 5.24 percent.

Along with efforts for promoting economic and infrastructure development, thelocal authorities also pay attention to implementing many social welfarepolicies, thus battering the living conditions of the locals.-VNA