Unity, Proactiveness, and Decisiveness
"Unity, proactive approach, and decisiveness in the face of urgent issues" is one of the conclusions reached by Associate Professor Dr. Ngo Van Minh (Ho Chi Minh National Political Academy, Region III) regarding the character of Quang Nam, in his paper submitted to the scientific conference on the culture and people of Quang Nam, held on October 7, 2024.
A workshop is perhaps "timely," considering the demands of practice and the preparation for a new phase, for Quang Nam .
"Unplugging"...
In recent months, the groups of people (sometimes ten, sometimes a few dozen) who regularly came to the Provincial Citizen Reception Office to engage in dialogue, submit petitions, and express their grievances to leaders at all levels regarding persistent problems in projects belonging to Bach Dat An Company have disappeared.
It should also be recalled that, in relation to this case, over the past five years, the provincial leadership alone has had to receive citizens more than 200 times; at one point, a crowd of over 100 people even gathered in front of the provincial People's Committee headquarters to pressure the government. Some newspapers even called this the largest, most complex, and most sensational complaint case related to real estate projects in the entire Central region.
The Bach Dat An case has not yet been fully resolved; the people are still waiting. However, the fundamental bottlenecks have been cleared, and in fact, the projects have restarted.
[ VIDEO ] - Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Van Dung inspects the Huynh Thuc Khang Memorial House historical site project:
Not only the aforementioned case, but many other projects, both public and private, that had been stalled for a long time, causing frustration and skepticism in public opinion, have also found a way out.
For example, the project to expand, upgrade, and renovate the landscape of the Huynh Thuc Khang Memorial House, following an inspection by Provincial Party Secretary Luong Nguyen Minh Triet earlier this year, has had its completion deadline set definitively, even though Quang Nam had to accept an additional 25 billion VND from the provincial budget to replace the central government funds that were cut due to the slow construction progress. Similarly, the large-scale Co Co River project, which had previously been temporarily halted for "technical reasons," has now been revived…
"No turning back"
Mr. Nguyen Nhu Cong, Chief of the Provincial People's Committee Office, who regularly "served" the Central Inspection Committee's inspection team working in Quang Nam in 2023, once shared that, despite the hardships, he was "completely convinced" of the team's working style, attitude, and conclusions.
"They handled the issue very thoroughly, thoughtfully, convincingly, and also very humanely. If we are wrong, we must admit it. But it must be said that this inspection has been very helpful to the officials and civil servants of the province," Mr. Cong expressed.
Perhaps, also stemming from the convincing conclusions of the Central Committee and with a serious and proactive spirit in adhering to the Party's discipline, Quang Nam took six months to implement the conclusions and requirements of the Central Inspection Committee. More than 120 cadres and Party members, and dozens of Party organizations, underwent the process of self-criticism and handling of violations according to regulations.
“It was very hard work, arduous, and time-consuming. We worked day and night; we couldn't be superficial or perfunctory because the issues were sensitive, affecting every organization and every individual. The most gratifying thing is that through these working sessions, the staff were all open-minded, ready to admit mistakes and accept disciplinary action without prevarication or avoidance. The Central Inspection Committee's approval of the report on the results of the review and disciplinary action of the province affirms the very serious spirit and attitude of Quang Nam under the direction of the Provincial Party Standing Committee,” said Mr. Nguyen Quang Khanh, Permanent Deputy Chairman of the Provincial Inspection Committee.
However, the "negative impact" during and after the inspections by the Central Inspection Committee and numerous other inspection teams that "flooded" Quang Nam last year is undeniable. The mentality of "fear of making mistakes, fear of responsibility" leading to sluggish work, buck-passing, avoidance, and reluctance to confront issues among a segment of officials and civil servants at all levels has never been frankly identified or analyzed in many forums and working sessions of Quang Nam province leaders in recent times, including in the resolutions and conclusions of the Provincial Party Committee.
Many construction projects have been stalled for extended periods; many requests and proposals from businesses have been slow to be addressed; many indicators of administrative reform and investment environment improvement have dropped significantly; and documents are being passed around in circles between departments, agencies, and localities... These are the consequences of the aforementioned situation, as assessed by provincial leaders.
“Administrative reform is one of the top priorities,” Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Van Dung frankly “committed” immediately after assuming his new position. Observing the “movements” in Quang Nam from the beginning of the year until now, it is easy to see that the spirit of “reform” is very prominent, consistent, and pervasive, and first and foremost, it is a “reform” of… people, a “discussion” to identify the limitations and weaknesses of the system in order to overcome them, without avoidance. And never before in the first six months of the year has the entire system, from the province to the grassroots, organized as many as four political activities aimed at “rectifying the workforce.”
In times of difficulty, Quang Nam always maintains and promotes the tradition of solidarity.
Since the beginning of the year, Quang Nam province has focused intensely on Party building and personnel work. To date, the consolidation and restructuring of personnel in the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Council, the Provincial People's Committee, and many departments, agencies, and localities have been basically completed. “A series of cadres have been transferred, rotated, appointed, nominated, and elected to new positions. All received very high consensus, with many receiving an absolute majority of votes. This affirms that, in the context of many difficulties, the Quang Nam Party Committee has always maintained and promoted the tradition of unity. This is both a source of pride and creates motivation and confidence for the Party Committee, government, and people of the entire province to continue striving for the development of their homeland,” said Luong Nguyen Minh Triet, Alternate Member of the Central Committee of the Party and Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee.
A comprehensive review, assessment, implementation, and especially the thorough rectification of shortcomings and deficiencies identified through inspections and audits at all levels have been decisively directed. Simultaneously, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee has continuously conducted working sessions, on-site visits, and urged the progress of projects in almost all departments, agencies, and localities. The Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee has held numerous meetings and specialized conferences to find ways to resolve long-standing bottlenecks. The Provincial People's Committee has established five working groups to regularly inspect and supervise public investment projects, and several other special working groups to promote key investment projects…
“Why is it that with the same mechanisms and institutions, others can achieve things quickly, while we cannot?” Provincial Party Secretary Luong Nguyen Minh Triet recently posed this question at a regular meeting of the Provincial People's Committee on the socio-economic situation in the first nine months of the year, emphasizing that there should be no turning back, no blaming everything on mechanisms and policies, but rather self-reflection. This question, which touches upon the pride of the people of Quang Nam, with their tradition of resilience and creativity, always finding ways to break through even in the most difficult times, is the beginning of the answer…
Rekindle... the belief
Many questions from the press at the Q3/2024 press conference, chaired by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Le Van Dung, indicate that Quang Nam has not yet resolved all bottlenecks in socio-economic development management. However, the return of economic growth and investor confidence are certainly positive signs.
Recovery signal
In the third quarter of last year, Quang Nam's Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) growth declined by 8.75%, and for the whole of 2023, it decreased by 8.25% – the deepest decline since the province's re-establishment (1997). Along with this, there has been an alarming drop in most indicators measuring administrative reform capacity, investment environment improvement, and numerous "bottlenecks" in socio-economic development, resulting in a rather bleak overall picture for Quang Nam. Concerns about lagging behind other localities are a common topic in forums and public opinion.
The first quarter of 2024 did not halt the decline, with GRDP continuing to fall by -1.5%. However, from the second quarter onwards, there were signs of recovery with a 6.5% increase, and this third quarter continued to accelerate with a 12.7% increase, contributing to a 9-month growth rate of 5.9% for 2024 - a figure difficult to predict based on 2023 data and the first quarter of this year.
More importantly, according to surveys by the Quang Nam Statistics Department, the business community's confidence in the market recovery and short-term business opportunities has returned. The agency boldly forecasts that economic growth in the fourth quarter will continue to be bright, and Quang Nam's GRDP in 2024 could reach 7.2%.
In the long term, Hyosung – a major South Korean corporation – remains committed to expanding its investment in the Tam Thang Industrial Park (Tam Ky), despite the impatience of waiting for the procedural obstacles to be resolved. In particular, the high-tech industrial and agricultural zone project by THACO, which had previously discouraged investors due to prolonged delays, has recently seen the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Le Van Dung, announce that land clearance will soon be completed, allowing the project to officially commence.
"We must acknowledge the weaknesses in state management."
For the first time in decades, the Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee held a meeting with construction contractors across the province to understand the difficulties and obstacles in the progress of public investment projects. Listening to the concerns of the business owners, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Le Van Dung, expressed dissatisfaction with the current situation. "We must frankly admit that state management is still weak. This absolutely must be rectified," the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized.
In other developments, reports from public opinion surveys conducted by the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department, or summaries of people's opinions from the Fatherland Front at all levels, have recently shown a more positive outlook. The political declaration on achieving the goal of eliminating over 10,490 temporary and dilapidated houses throughout the province by the end of 2025, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the homeland; or more recently, the Provincial People's Council's decision to waive tuition fees for students at all levels (in the context of an economy that has not yet achieved stable growth and uncertain budget revenue) are certainly good news for people inside and outside the province.
Immediately after the Provincial Congress of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (August 2024), the Chairman of the Provincial Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Le Tri Thanh, proposed "5 innovations" in the action program for the new term, aiming for a more effective improvement in people's lives.
Overcoming oneself?
The return of GRDP growth in the second and third quarters, and the forecast for the fourth quarter of this year, is a positive sign, but there is no guarantee of the safety and stability of Quang Nam's economy, let alone the requirement for high annual growth as stipulated in the provincial planning, given that for many years, the decisive factor has depended on a single production sector. The "luck" factor in setting annual economic and budget revenue targets has been readily apparent and consistent over the years.
"Quang Nam's economy is currently only at an average level compared to the rest of the country, the North Central region, and the Central Coastal region," Associate Professor Dr. Tran Dinh Thien recently observed. A report from the Provincial Statistics Department also indicates that Quang Nam's economic size in the first nine months of 2024 ranked 27th out of 63 provinces and cities, and 8th out of 14 localities in the aforementioned region. While in 2020, Quang Nam's economic size reached over 95 trillion VND, in the first nine months of 2024 it was only 90.9 trillion VND. Within the Central Key Economic Zone, Quang Nam's economy once ranked second, but currently ranks fourth among the five localities in the region.
Undergrowth is something experts have been talking about. But the lagging behind many other localities is also becoming increasingly apparent, forcing Quang Nam to frankly re-evaluate itself. However, difficulties, challenges, and great pressure also present opportunities, as stated by the Provincial Party Secretary Luong Nguyen Minh Triet. Among these, the advantages are clearly visible from the overall economic context of the country, coupled with the Party's policy and the State's efforts to strongly reform the economic system, amend many laws, and empower localities to "self-determine, self-act, and take responsibility." A significant advantage has also been established from the meticulously researched scientific basis for building the goals, vision, and targets of the provincial planning.
[VIDEO] - Provincial Party Secretary Luong Nguyen Minh Triet inspects the site and listens to reports on the progress of the Co Co River dredging project.
Recently, there have been some more good news: representatives from Adani – India's largest energy group – and leaders from Sovico held a meeting with the province to discuss investment opportunities in Chu Lai Airport, following Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's direct assistance to Quang Nam in attracting investment from India; and the Truong Giang River renovation project, with a capital of 2,700 billion VND, is about to be launched with high determination regarding its progress.
There's also an interesting coincidence. In 2000-2001, amidst the most difficult times, Quang Nam continuously organized two major scientific conferences on the culture and people of the region, which then led to a breakthrough and became a phenomenon, just as predicted by the Minister of Planning and Investment, Nguyen Chi Dung, more than 20 years ago. And recently, once again, Quang Nam has returned to its cultural roots.
Opportunities and challenges: Will Quang Nam surpass its own limits?
On August 14, 2024, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Le Van Dung, signed a decision to establish five working groups to inspect, supervise, resolve difficulties and obstacles, and accelerate the disbursement of public investment capital and the socio-economic recovery and development program for 2024.
Accordingly, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Le Van Dung, will head Task Force No. 1; inspecting and supervising the districts of Nui Thanh and Que Son.
Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Phan Thai Binh heads Task Force No. 2; inspecting and supervising the Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board and the localities of Phu Ninh, Duy Xuyen, Dien Ban, and Hoi An.
Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Tran Nam Hung heads Task Force No. 3; inspecting and supervising the Provincial Project Management Board for the construction of transportation infrastructure projects and the localities of Tien Phuoc, Thang Binh, Hiep Duc, Nong Son, and Dai Loc.
Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Ho Quang Buu heads Task Force No. 4; inspects and supervises the Provincial Project Management Board for Investment and Construction of Agricultural and Rural Development Projects and the localities of Nui Thanh and Tam Ky.
Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Tran Anh Tuan heads Task Force No. 5; inspecting and supervising the districts of Dong Giang, Nam Giang, Tay Giang, Phuoc Son, Bac Tra My, and Nam Tra My.
Content: PHU THANH
Presented by: MINH TAO
Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/chuyen-dong-quang-nam-3142890.html
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