HCMC – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc came out in strong support of HCMC’s four breakthrough schemes for development at a meeting with the HCMC Party Standing Committee on August 23.
The schemes — raising the budget retention rate for the city, piloting the city’s urban administration model, establishing Thu Duc City and developing the financial center of HCMC — are included in the draft Political Report that the city has prepared for the congress of the HCMC Party Committee for the 2020-2025 tenure, according to the Government’s news site.
As for the scheme of establishing Thu Duc City, the prime minister asked the city to work with the Home Affairs Ministry and relevant agencies to quickly finalize the scheme, with a focus on planning, resources and management.
Regarding the scheme of developing the HCMC financial center, Phuc asked the city to work with ministries and government agencies to assess the impact of the scheme on the city’s socioeconomic development and determine appropriate management methods and ways to mobilize domestic and international resources.
Phuc praised the HCMC government for carefully preparing the draft Political Report, which is practical and shows the city’s clear development orientations through 24 specific development criteria and comprehensive solutions.
However, the prime minister suggested the city add some content to the report, including the efficient use of resources, innovation in the context of the fourth industrial revolution and the application of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Commenting on the report, Phuc noted that the city has made many achievements but still has some shortcomings such as traffic congestion and the large gap between the rich and the poor.
The Government leader suggested the city make its business environment more attractive and improve labor productivity to raise its gross regional domestic product.
Phuc said it will be really hard for the city to meet its development targets this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and, as such, should take more drastic measures and offer stronger support to individuals and businesses affected by the pandemic.
For the 2020-2025 goals and orientations, the prime minister suggested the city focus on science and technology, innovation, human resources, infrastructure and climate change. “The city’s goal is to become a smart and modern industrial city and an economic and financial hub of regional and global stature,” he said.
Phuc said the city needs to improve its connection with other southern and Mekong Delta provinces and cities, raise its gross regional domestic product target and enhance international integration.
To take the lead in innovation and research and development, the city should spend 5-6% of its budget on research and development. As the economic hub of the southern key economic zone, HCMC should also contribute at least 5% of its resources, budget and land fund for the development of the zone.
