Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phuoc works with Hai Phong on promoting growth.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc led a working delegation to Hai Phong to urge the resolution of difficulties and obstacles, and to promote economic growth.

Comrade Ho Duc Phoc, Member of the Central Committee of the Party and Deputy Prime Minister , delivered the concluding remarks at the working session.

On the afternoon of September 11th, at the City Convention and Performance Center, Comrade Ho Duc Phoc, Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Deputy Prime Minister, and Head of the Government's Task Force No. 5, led a working delegation to Hai Phong to urge and resolve difficulties and obstacles in production, business, import and export, infrastructure construction, promote growth, and accelerate the disbursement of public investment capital.

Comrades Le Tien Chau, Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Secretary of the City Party Committee, Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Hai Phong City; Le Ngoc Chau, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Hai Phong City; members of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee, members of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee, Vice Chairmen of the People's Committee of Hai Phong City, and leaders of departments, agencies, and units in the city worked with the Deputy Prime Minister.

Reporting at the meeting, Comrade Le Tien Chau, Secretary of the Hai Phong City Party Committee, stated that despite facing numerous difficulties and a massive workload after the merger, the city has strived to ensure the socio-economic development targets assigned by the Central Government are met, achieving many important results.

Following the merger of Hai Phong and Hai Duong provinces, the political system of the new Hai Phong city is ensured to be synchronized and unified. Hai Phong's socio-economic indicators for the first eight months of 2025 are at a high level compared to the national average.

Comrade Le Tien Chau, Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Secretary of the City Party Committee, and Head of the Hai Phong National Assembly Delegation, delivered a speech at the working session.

Specifically, the GRDP for the first six months of the year increased by 11.2% compared to the same period last year. The industrial production index (IIP) for the first eight months increased by 11.51%; total export turnover is estimated at 31.8 billion USD, an increase of 6.25%; cargo throughput at ports reached 120.14 million tons, an increase of 12.25%. Total state budget revenue in the area for the first eight months reached 132,239 billion VND, equivalent to 89.7% of the central government's allocated budget, 89.1% of the city's People's Council's allocated budget for 2025, and an increase of 29.5% compared to the same period in 2024.

Despite the overall challenging economic context, Hai Phong achieved positive results in attracting investment, reaching US$1,923 million in FDI, equivalent to 94.4% compared to the same period in 2024. Notably, domestic investment attraction saw significant growth, exceeding VND 324,502 billion.

The security and social order situation is stable. Hai Phong is also a leading locality in implementing national target programs and ensuring social welfare, with poverty eradication and temporary housing elimination programs all achieving their goals ahead of schedule.

In response to the need to find new growth drivers, Hai Phong city is accelerating the establishment of the Southern Economic Zone with a free trade zone, Nam Do Son port, Tien Lang international airport, etc. At the same time, it is actively coordinating the implementation of many key projects, especially the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project.

Key projects and works have been focused on and implemented with many innovative solutions and effective approaches, creating breakthrough momentum to boost economic growth. Many regional and inter-regional transportation infrastructure projects have been implemented, expected to open up new development opportunities for Hai Phong.

Regarding the disbursement of public investment capital, as of August 31st, Hai Phong had disbursed 21,749.4 billion VND, reaching 60.6% of the capital plan assigned by the Prime Minister, and 55.3% of the capital plan assigned by the city, higher than the same period in 2024.

Regarding social housing, the city has exceeded the government's target for the 2021-2025 period. Currently, the city has 26 projects with approximately 28,820 apartments that have received investment approval and are in the process of completing investment procedures. The city continues to call for investment in subsequent projects, ensuring the completion of the government's target of 32,845 apartments for the 2026-2030 period.

During the meeting, city leaders and departmental officials raised several difficulties and obstacles in the production, business, and import-export activities of city enterprises, including the impact of the US policy of imposing additional tariffs on certain groups of goods imported from Vietnam. Difficulties in recruiting highly skilled and experienced workers in industrial zones were also highlighted. The sharp fluctuations in input material prices have led to higher product costs, directly affecting the production and business plans of enterprises.

In the field of infrastructure investment and construction, especially key infrastructure and social housing, some difficulties have been encountered due to a shortage of leveling materials. Preferential loan interest rates for social housing remain high, making it difficult for people to access them. The disbursement of public investment capital and the implementation of national target programs have also faced some obstacles and difficulties because the process of adjusting and supplementing the medium-term public investment plan from the central government budget for the 2021-2025 period has not been completed, so the city has not yet allocated public investment capital for 2025 to some projects.

A view of the work session.

Land clearance for some projects is still slow because some central government units located in the city have not yet handed over the land, and adjustments and unification of legal documents on compensation for land clearance and land price lists are needed after the merger of Hai Phong city and Hai Duong province…

During the meeting, delegates reviewed the GRDP growth scenario and solutions to strive to achieve and surpass Hai Phong's GRDP growth target as stipulated in Government Resolution No. 226/NQ-CP. They objectively and frankly assessed the current situation in each sector; analyzed the root causes of difficulties and obstacles; and proposed practical and feasible solutions to address them in the short term and provide long-term direction.

Concluding the working session, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc emphasized that Hai Phong is one of the three growth poles of the country. The city has the third largest economy nationwide, the second largest import-export volume, and the third largest budget revenue. Therefore, Hai Phong plays a very important role in the national economy. The merger of Hai Phong and Hai Duong opens up vast economic space and development potential for the new Hai Phong city.

The comrade suggested that Hai Phong should continue to focus on developing its economic pillars: industry, seaports, and logistics. Besides exploiting international seaports, the city should leverage its riverine advantages and prioritize the development of inland waterway logistics. In the energy sector, Hai Phong should capitalize on its strengths and develop renewable energy sources such as wind and gas power.

In addition, the city's planning should be reviewed and adjusted to maximize the potential and advantages of the new development space after the merger of localities and the new socio-economic zoning orientation.

For free trade zones, the city needs to proactively establish working groups and send officials to study and learn from the experiences of other countries around the world. Particular attention should be paid to lessons learned in addressing environmental and social security issues. Based on this, investors should be carefully selected based on green, environmentally friendly, and sustainable production practices.

In the coming period, Hai Phong needs to continue to accelerate the disbursement of public investment capital; effectively exploit the market; strengthen decentralization and delegation of power, reform administrative procedures, and promote national digital transformation; boost private investment; effectively and decisively handle outstanding projects; and speed up the implementation of national target programs.

The Deputy Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of local governments at both levels; investing in information technology and modern equipment to support administrative work; and building a professional team of grassroots officials with competence, integrity, and good ethics.

The city needs to continue paying attention to the areas of protecting sovereignty, peace, security and order, and improving the lives of its people. It should create favorable conditions and implement solutions to attract investors in the healthcare and education sectors.

Regarding the city's proposals, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc instructed relevant ministries and agencies to urgently study, resolve, and provide specific, definitive, and clear guidance as soon as possible so that Hai Phong can quickly overcome obstacles and difficulties.

NGUYEN CUONG - DUY THINH

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/pho-thu-tuong-ho-duc-phoc-lam-viec-voi-hai-phong-ve-thuc-day-tang-truong-520553.html