Bac Giang (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on June 6 asked the northern provinceof Bac Giang to pursue an intensive growth model and optimise its advantagesin geographical location, culture and human resources to develop sustainably.

At a working session withthe provincial leaders, the PM lauded Bac Giang’s performance in economicgrowth, per capita income, budget collection, investment attraction, new-stylerural area building, education, smuggling combat, and national defence andsecurity.

Despite the impact ofthe COVID-19 pandemic, the province still grew 7.4 percent in the first quarterof this year, which reflects great efforts and high determination of localauthorities and people, he stressed and urged Bac Giang tocomplete the dual goals of boosting production and containing the pandemic,saying the province needs to further remove difficulties faced by businessesand locals.

The province shouldquickly submit its socio-economic development plan for 2021-2030 to the PM forapproval, he went on.

PM Phuc, however, pointedto Bac Giang’s reliance in FDI, untapped potential, poor attention toentertainment services and trade union activities, along with issues regarding land,transportation, logistics, agricultural production, vocational training andurban development.

Given this, theprovince needs to utilise its labour advantages, pay more heed to high-tech,e-commerce, digital economy and infrastructure, towards a smart economy.

Agriculture holds a competitiveedge in Bac Giang, he said, suggesting the locality build a modern andsustainable agricultural sector, focusing on organic and clean agriculturalproduction.

The Government leaderalso urged the province to pour more investment in tourism, and create breakthroughsin infrastructure, including digital infrastructure.

During his stay inBac Giang, Phuc visited an orchard named after late President Ho Chi Minh inTru Huu commune, Luc Ngan district, and a national relic complex in Tien Luc commune,Lang Giang district.

Bac Giang is home tothe largest area of lychee, with about 28,000 ha. The province harvests 150,000-200,000 tonnes of the fruit eachyear. This year’s output is estimated at 160,000 tonnes.
Up to 15,000 ha of lychee have met VietGAPstandards while 218 hasatisfy GlobalGAPstandards. Japan has issued 19 lychee growing area codes and China granted149 lychee growing area codes and certified 288 packaging facilities in BacGiang./.