The central province of Thanh Hoa should use its strength with its numerous industrial parks, especially the national key economic zone of Nghi Son, as the driver for strong growth in the coming years, suggested President Truong Tan Sang at the province’s Party Congress on September 23. Thanh Hoa should also speed up economic restructuring in association with renovating its growth models to enhance productivity and economic competitiveness while improving the investment environment to attract more domestic and foreign investment, he said. The province should also boost the development of basic and hi-tech industries and encourage sectors employing labourers in rural and remote areas, asked the President. In Thanh Hoa, which has all three terrains of coastal, delta and mountainous areas, President Truong Tan Sang said it is also necessary to accelerate the development of services, especially seaport, transport and storage, making the province strong in logistics and seaport in the region. Thanh Hoa should leverage its various historical and cultural heritages to boost tourism, he said. According to a report at the 18th congress, Thanh Hoa’s average growth from 2011-2015 reached 11.4 percent annually, the highest figure in the 30 years of “doi moi” (reform). This year, the province’s per capita GDP is estimated at 1,530 USD, 1.9 times higher than that of 2010. Its average yearly food production hit 1.69 million tonnes, exceeding the set target. At the same time, the new-style rural area building programme has seen positive progress with 86 communes and 36 villages expected to be recognised as new-style rural areas by the end of this year. Industry and construction have maintained high growth, expanding by 13.7 percent each year, said the report, adding that Thanh Hoa has also been among leading localities nationwide in several indices, including the public administration performance index (PAPI), provincial competitiveness index (PCI) and provincial economic integration index (PEII). The poverty rate has reduced by 3.57 percent annually. In the past five years, the province has created jobs for more than 300,000 locals. Each year, Party organisations across the province admit more than 7,000 members and the Party Central Committee’s resolution on Party building and the Politburo’s instruction on studying and following President Ho Chi Minh’s moral example have been strictly implemented, said the report. The report also pointed to a number of shortcomings facing the province, including unsustainable agricultural development and weak competitiveness of industrial products. In the next five years, Thanh Hoa targets a yearly growth of 12 percent with per capita GDP of 3,600 USD. The ratio of communes recognised as new-style rural area is expected to be raised to 50 percent. The province is set to raise the proportion of trained labourers to over 70 percent and reduce the ratio of poor households by 2.5 percent each year. Participants at the congress also drew out five key programmes serving the province’s development, including those to expand the Nghi Son Economic Zone and boost tourism.-VNA