Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra suggests 7 key tasks for Lao Cai

At the working session with leaders of Lao Cai province, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra deeply analyzed the potentials and development space and suggested 7 key task groups.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra inspected the activities of the Public Administration Service Center of Cam Duong ward, Lao Cai province.

On the afternoon of November 9, continuing her working program in Lao Cai, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra worked with provincial leaders to grasp the socio -economic development situation, disbursement of public investment capital, ensuring social security, national defense and security, and the implementation of the two-level local government model.

Many positive results after 10 months

Reporting to the Deputy Prime Minister , Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee Tran Huy Tuan said that in the first 10 months of 2025, the province's socio-economic situation was basically stable and had positive signs. The 9-month GRDP growth rate reached 7.38%, ranking 4th out of 9 provinces and cities in the Northern Midlands and Mountains region, 22nd out of 34 localities nationwide; the economic scale at current prices reached 102,000 billion VND, ranking 3rd in the region.

Disbursement of public investment capital reached 7,618 billion VND, equal to 49.3% of the plan assigned by the province; the capital plan assigned by the Prime Minister alone reached 70.1%. The province has started the project to expand the Yen Bai - Lao Cai section of the Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway; speeding up site clearance for the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong high-speed railway.

Along with that, Lao Cai attracted 49 new investment projects with a total capital of more than 16,900 billion VND, creating jobs for 27,000 workers, the poverty rate is expected to decrease to 5.5%.

In implementing the two-level local government model, Lao Cai has streamlined its apparatus to 17 departments, 175 public service units, 99 stable commune-level public administration centers, with a timely file settlement rate of over 97%. The province has also resolved policies for more than 2,200 cases of layoffs and implemented a project of 1,500 social housing apartments for officials and civil servants.

The province proposed that the Government consider investment incentive mechanisms for key projects, support funding for renovating headquarters and public housing in post-merger communes, retain 15% of land use fees in 2026, promptly guide site clearance for the Lao Cai - Hai Phong railway project; arrange sources to prevent flooding in the Red River area, etc.

Ministries and branches highly appreciate Lao Cai's direction

At the meeting, Deputy Minister of Construction Le Anh Tuan assessed that Lao Cai has a special strategic position and is an important trade hub, demonstrated through major projects such as the Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway and the upcoming Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway.

Regarding Lao Cai Airport with a total investment of nearly 7,000 billion VND, the Deputy Minister suggested that the province continue to research and propose increasing the support rate from the State budget, while seeking potential strategic investors to implement the project because "aviation and tourism are two inseparable spearheads".

Regarding the two-level local government, Mr. Phan Trung Tuan, Director of the Department of Local Government (Ministry of Home Affairs), acknowledged that Lao Cai has implemented the two-level government very resolutely, effectively, and with fewer problems than other localities. He suggested that the province dispatch department and sector officials to communes to "hold hands and guide" to strengthen grassroots capacity.

Mr. Phan Trung Tuan shared that the Ministry of Home Affairs is reviewing the overall local payroll, developing allocation criteria and completing important decrees such as regulations on the number of Vice Chairmen of Commune-level People's Committees, job positions, and organization of specialized agencies at the provincial and district levels.

After listening to the opinions, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra expressed her excitement at seeing Lao Cai overcome a challenging period to achieve many comprehensive and impressive results.

Together with the whole country, the province has successfully carried out the revolution in organizational structure, administrative unit arrangement and deployed the two-level local government model proactively, synchronously and uniformly in the entire political system.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra works with Lao Cai province

The Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged the province's efforts in successfully organizing Party Congresses at all levels, maintaining political stability and social order despite many personnel changes; and highly appreciated the positive economic growth, strong administrative reform, focus on strategic infrastructure and social security.

"Despite being affected by natural disasters, the province still ensures good welfare, sustainable poverty reduction, cares for the disadvantaged and promotes cultural identity into unique tourism products," Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra assessed.

Determined to complete the "miracle" by 2025

The Deputy Prime Minister also emphasized that the remaining time of the year is not much, but the comprehensive completion of the 2025 goals will be a miracle if the province is determined and takes strong action; at the same time, he suggested 7 key task groups for Lao Cai province in the coming period.

First of all, fully and deeply identify the new advantages after the merger and complete the planning. After the merger, Lao Cai will have a completely new geopolitical, geo-economic, cultural position and development space, not only for the province but also for the whole region.

Therefore, the province needs to fully and deeply identify these advantages to urgently review and adjust the overall provincial planning, creating a basis for implementing the development strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2050.

Second, build strategic development programs and projects for Lao Cai province in the next 5-10 years in a fundamental and methodical manner.

"The speed of development today is much different from the past, one step can be equal to a hundred steps in the past. Therefore, we must proactively build strategic programs and projects for the next 5-10 years, clearly define policies and key infrastructure projects, create resonance and new development momentum," the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

Third, the province needs to resolutely complete the immediate tasks.

Lao Cai needs to focus on all measures, work every hour, every day to complete the 2025 targets. In particular, economic growth and budget revenue are two important indicators showing the health of the local economy.

"We must be determined to achieve a growth rate of over 8%, because this is not only this year's target but also a premise for the next period and a common contribution to the country's growth," the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized, while also noting that the province must ensure harmonious development between economy, culture and society, considering this the foundation for sustainable development.

Fourth, regarding the disbursement of capital for basic construction investment, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the province to continue to "attack to the end" to complete the target. The province's disbursement results currently rank fourth in the country, exceeding the average. The province needs to promote this advantage, continue to move towards the goal of completing 100%, at least reaching 95%.

Fifth, focus on strategic breakthroughs. In particular, focus on administrative and institutional reforms: Continue to promote administrative procedure reform, build a set of appropriate policy mechanisms, and especially promote science and technology, innovation and digital transformation. Digital transformation must be considered a revolution, rising strongly to build digital government, digital economy and digital society.

In addition, prioritize resources for connecting transport infrastructure and digital infrastructure. Regarding human resources, there needs to be a breakthrough mechanism to attract experts and scientists, while improving the quality of on-site education and training.

Sixth, the province needs to promote the characteristics of a border province. Lao Cai has the characteristics of a border region, with special significance in terms of security, national defense and people's foreign affairs. Therefore, the province needs to promote the role of border communes, pay more attention to the lives of ethnic minorities, considering this a strategic task to build a peaceful, stable and developed border region.

Finally, according to the Deputy Prime Minister, it is necessary to improve the effectiveness of the two-level local government model.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra requested Lao Cai not only to stop at stable operation but also to create a "revolution in governance thinking". Authorities at all levels must shift from "administrative management" to "local governance", promoting the spirit of creation, service, dialogue and accountability.

Along with that, the province needs to continue to improve the organizational structure, restructure the staff, innovate in recruiting and using talents, and strengthen training and fostering of commune-level officials. In particular, it is necessary to invest in physical facilities and digital infrastructure for communes to operate digital government effectively.

* Previously, on November 9, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra attended the groundbreaking ceremony of 4 Lao Cai border boarding schools, presented gifts to disadvantaged students; inspected the activities of the Public Administration Service Center of Muong Khuong commune and worked with leaders of the Party Committee and People's Committee of the commune; inspected the activities of the Public Administration Service Center of Cam Duong ward, Lao Cai province.

Source: https://vtv.vn/pho-thu-tuong-pham-thi-thanh-tra-goi-mo-7-nhom-nhiem-vu-trong-tam-cho-lao-cai-100251109222222472.htm