Party chief hails industry-trade sector as economic spearhead
Over the past 30 years of reform and integration, the industry and trade sector has become a spearhead economic sector, providing an important momentum for national recovery and development, and helping Vietnam turn from a poor country into a middle-income nation, said the Party chief.
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong speaks at the working session. (Source: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Over the past 30 years of reform and integration, the industryand trade sector has become a spearhead economic sector, providing importantmomentum for national recovery and development, and helping Vietnam turn from apoor country into a middle-income nation, said the Party chief.
GeneralSecretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen PhuTrong made the remarks at a working session with leaders of the Ministry ofIndustry and Trade (MoIT) on the implementation of the Resolution of the 12thNational Party Congress, as well as major tasks for the remaining months of2018 and the years beyond.
Theindustry, trade, and service sector currently contributes over 80 percent to thenation’s gross domestic product (GDP) and about 70 percent to the State budgetcollection, he said.
TheParty leader said after the 12th National Party Congress in 2016, the industryand trade sector has faced a range of difficulties and challenges. However, thesector has made all-out efforts to complete its assigned tasks and makesignificant contributions to the country’s reform, integration, andsocio-economic development, he stressed.
He askedthe MoIT to thoroughly grasp the strategic policies and guidelines of theParty; keep a close watch on the domestic and international situation in orderto actively integrate into the world; build on the socialist-oriented marketeconomy; and well handle relations between the State, market, and society.
Ministerof Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh reported that industrial production hasfulfilled and exceeded the set targets, up from 7.4 percent in 2016 to 9.4percent in 2017. The rate stood at 10.5 percent in the first half of this year.
Lastyear, Vietnam’s export turnover exceeded 200 billion USD for the first time, afterthe previous year came close with some 180 billion USD. The country ran a tradesurplus of 2.7 billion USD in the first six months of this year, he said.
Regardingthe organisational apparatus, Anh said the MoIT has cut 675 businessconditions, removed 420 out of 720 goods codes subject to pre-clearanceinspections, scrapped 183 out of 508 administrative procedures, and implemented154 out of 298 online public services at levels three and four.
The MoIThas also built and submitted for approval 110 legal documents, completing all ofits set targets, helping remove obstacles for businesses.
Besidesthis, the sector has worked hard to speed up capital divestment, equitisation,and rearrangement of State-owned enterprises practically and effectively, withthe most noteworthy being the equitisation of Sai Gon Beer Alcohol Beverage Corporation (Sabeco), regaining110 trillion VND (4.84 billion USD) forthe State budget, the minister said. -VNA
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Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong speaks at the working session. (Source: VNA) 
