Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh works with the Standing Committee of the Kon Tum Provincial Party Committee.

During his working visit to Kon Tum province, on the morning of August 20th, Politburo member and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh worked with the Standing Committee of the Kon Tum Provincial Party Committee on the socio-economic development, national defense and security, Party building, and the political system; and addressed a number of requests and proposals to ensure Kon Tum's rapid and sustainable development.

Also attending were Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son, Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh, Secretary of the Kon Tum Provincial Party Committee Duong Van Trang; leaders of several central ministries and agencies and a number of economic corporations.

Achieved and exceeded 38 out of 39 key targets.

According to the Kon Tum Provincial Party Committee, in 2022 and the first six months of 2023, the province seriously implemented the Resolutions of the Central Committee, the National Assembly , the Government, and the Provincial Party Committee, achieving important results in most areas.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh concludes the working session with key leaders of Kon Tum province. Photo: Duong Giang/TTXVN.

In 2022, Kon Tum achieved and exceeded 38 out of 39 key targets. Specifically, the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) increased by 9.47%; state budget revenue increased by 10.56% compared to the same period; and total investment implemented in the province increased by nearly 15.9%. The economic structure shifted positively, with a focus on developing key crops with competitive advantages such as coffee, rubber, macadamia nuts, and Ngoc Linh ginseng. Industry experienced high growth, with the Industrial Production Index (IIP) increasing by nearly 22.8%. Services and tourism recovered well, with total retail sales increasing by 23.2%. Administrative procedures were reformed, and the investment and business environment improved. In the first six months of 2023, GRDP increased by 6.8%; planning work was implemented on schedule.

Cultural and social fields have received attention. The quality of education has improved. Poverty reduction efforts have been prioritized, with the poverty rate at 10.86%. Efforts to restore, preserve, and promote the cultural identity and traditions of ethnic minorities have been emphasized. National defense and security have been maintained; political security, order, and social safety have been ensured. Foreign relations have been strengthened. Party building and the development of the political system have been given attention and implemented effectively…

Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang delivers a speech. Photo: Duong Giang/TTXVN

Kon Tum province has requested the Government, the Prime Minister, and relevant ministries and agencies to consider approving the provincial planning and the Mang Den National Tourist Area; to supplement the planning and allow investment in Mang Den airport and several regional connecting expressway projects; to adjust the land use planning for agriculture and forestry in some areas; to add wind power development to the Kon Tum development plan; to open the Ho Le sub-border gate in Ia Dal commune, Ia H'Drai district with Cambodia; and to agree on a mechanism to support people contracting to plant, care for, and harvest rubber with the Vietnam Rubber Industry Group…

At the meeting, leaders from central ministries and agencies acknowledged that Kon Tum has made many efforts and achieved many accomplishments, especially in recent years. The delegates suggested that the province focus on sustainable development, particularly in tourism, services, high-tech agriculture, and medicinal plants; and protect natural resources and the cultural identity of the 43 ethnic groups in the locality.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh delivers a speech. Photo: Duong Giang/TTXVN

Enhancing regional linkages and unleashing potential and strengths.

Concluding the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh commended the efforts and highly appreciated the achievements of the Party Committee, government, military, and people of Kon Tum province, contributing to the overall achievements of the whole country.

The Prime Minister stated that Kon Tum is strategically located at the Indochina crossroads, in the core of the Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia development triangle; it has a large forest area with 63% forest cover, diverse flora and fauna, and valuable genetic resources such as Ngoc Linh ginseng... It has a population of approximately 580,000 people belonging to 43 ethnic groups; favorable natural conditions; abundant water resources; and generally convenient transportation.

In particular, Kon Tum is a land with a long history and a glorious revolutionary tradition, boasting national-level revolutionary historical relics; a land rich in the folk culture of ethnic minorities, with many diverse and unique forms that are still preserved and developed.

The Prime Minister pointed out that Kon Tum possesses many unique potentials, comparative advantages, and outstanding opportunities for development, especially in tourism, services, and high-tech agriculture. However, the province's development has not been commensurate with its potential and still has many shortcomings and limitations. These include limited economic growth scale and speed; a competitiveness index in the average group; and only nearly 1,700 active businesses. Agriculture has not yet applied much science and technology and is not yet linked to the processing industry. Tourism infrastructure is still weak and has not attracted many international tourists; import and export are low; the percentage of trained workers is low; and the poverty rate remains high. Political security and social order still harbor many complex issues...

Regarding key tasks and solutions for the coming period, the Prime Minister requested that Kon Tum province develop more rapidly, strongly, comprehensively, and sustainably. The locality must maintain national defense and security, especially in border areas and among ethnic minorities, to avoid being caught off guard or surprised. At the same time, the province needs to build a front line for equal, healthy, and effective international economic cooperation; improve the material and spiritual lives of the people; and preserve and promote the cultural identity of the 43 ethnic groups in the province.

First and foremost, Kon Tum must review the goals, requirements, and tasks outlined in the Resolutions of the 13th National Congress of the Party, as well as the resolutions and directives of the Party, the National Assembly, the Government, and the Provincial Party Committee regarding socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security, building the Party and the political system of the province, the entire region, and the whole country...; focusing on leadership, direction, and mobilizing resources to promote development in the following year to achieve better results than the previous year.

The province must focus on removing legal obstacles related to land, forests, capital contributions, and other assets to free up resources for development. Kon Tum needs to mobilize resources, especially public-private partnerships, for development, including transportation infrastructure, energy, social infrastructure, tourism, culture, education, and healthcare; promote collaborative models, and ensure the legitimate rights and interests of the people, so that they can escape poverty and achieve legitimate wealth.

The province must ensure the progress and quality of planning work to create new development spaces, promote comprehensive development, and align with the specific ecological conditions and local cultural identity; develop a green economy, digital economy, and circular economy; and transform the growth model from exploiting natural resources to one based on innovation, high labor productivity, and the application of advanced science and technology, especially in areas with great potential such as tourism, services, high-tech agriculture, medicinal plants, and processing industries.

The Prime Minister paid special attention to promoting regional linkages to create a unified development space; promoting the restructuring of the agricultural sector, shifting to high-yield, high-value crops and livestock, focusing on products with competitive advantages. The province needs to develop high-tech agriculture, organic agriculture, and medicinal plant cultivation areas under forest canopy; focusing on building a number of national and international branded products, especially Ngoc Linh ginseng. At the same time, it needs to develop industry, especially agricultural processing and renewable energy; better exploit the advantages of the border economic zone; and develop tourism in a modern direction linked to the potential and advantages of scenic spots, natural conditions, unique specialties, ecological environment, and cultural identity of ethnic groups.

Whatever is beneficial to the people and the country, we will do our utmost to accomplish.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a working session with key leaders of Kon Tum province and representatives of investors. Photo: Duong Giang/TTXVN.

According to the Prime Minister, Kon Tum needs mechanisms and policies to attract and effectively utilize resources for investment and development, strengthen public-private partnerships, focus on developing and attracting large domestic and international enterprises and corporations in a green, sustainable direction, and applying science and technology. The province should accelerate the disbursement of public investment capital and national target programs, especially key projects and works; develop a synchronous and modern socio-economic infrastructure, focusing on transportation, healthcare, education, industrial park and cluster infrastructure, information, telecommunications, and irrigation; and concentrate on developing human resources.

The Head of Government directed Kon Tum province to strengthen administrative reform in a substantive and effective manner to create a favorable and attractive investment and business environment; promote digital transformation; and encourage entrepreneurship and innovation. The province should enhance dialogue, support, and promptly resolve difficulties and obstacles in production and business for people and enterprises. Along with this, the province should effectively implement social welfare programs; focus on land management, resources, forests, environmental protection, climate change adaptation, and prioritize forest protection and development.

Kon Tum must strengthen national defense and security and promote foreign relations; maintain political stability and social order. The province should focus on combating and suppressing crime and social evils; effectively resolve issues related to housing and production land for the people, especially ethnic minorities; definitively resolve outstanding land disputes and complaints; and proactively detect and address potential risks leading to mass disputes and complaints.

Alongside this, the Kon Tum Party Committee continues to focus on building a clean and strong Party and political system; further enhancing the leadership capacity and fighting strength of Party organizations and members; building a streamlined apparatus that operates effectively and efficiently; and training a team of cadres, civil servants, and public employees with sufficient qualities, capabilities, and prestige to meet the demands of their tasks.

Regarding the proposals and recommendations from Kon Tum province, after listening to discussions from leaders of ministries, sectors, and businesses, and providing specific feedback on each item, the Prime Minister agreed to consider and resolve them within his authority. The Prime Minister requested that ministries, sectors, and Kon Tum province coordinate in handling these matters, based on the situation and according to a suitable roadmap; issues exceeding their authority should be submitted to the Government and competent authorities for consideration, especially those related to the development of the Mang Den National Tourist Area, wind power development, and mechanisms to support people contracting to plant, care for, and harvest rubber…

The Prime Minister reminded that resolving petitions must be based on practical realities and the actual situation, while also considering the specific characteristics of each case and locality; for issues without regulations, proposals should be submitted to competent authorities for consideration and supplementation. Resolving conflicts and disagreements during the development process must be based on the principle of "harmonizing the interests of the State, the people, and businesses," with the motto "do everything that benefits the people and the country; avoid everything that is detrimental or harmful to the people and the country."

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