PM asks Khanh Hoa to tap sea port, tourism advantages

The central coastal province ofKhanh Hoa should take full advantage of its potentials in tourism,services and sea ports to attract investment for fast and sustainabledevelopment, turning it into a centre of the southern central region.

PrimeMinister Nguyen Tan Dung made the recommendation at a working sessionwith leaders of Khanh Hoa province in Nha Trang city, on June 9 toreview the implementation of socio-economic tasks and the government’sresolution on curbing inflation, stabilising the macro-economy andensuring social security over the past five months.

He alsosuggested Khanh Hoa review and update its socio-economic development andland use plans, giving priority to the construction of Van Phong portand Cam Ranh airport.

Upon the province’s request, PMDung gave permission to the Vietnam National Shipping Lines to adjustthe scale of Van Phong entrepot project so that it can receive shipsfrom 12,000 TEU.

In the first five months of the year,Khanh Hoa province’s industrial production value reached over 6.6trillion VND, a year-on-year rise of 17.11 percent, tourism revenue,more than 850 billion VND, up 27.79 percent, export value, more than 388million USD, a rise of 78.3 percent and budget collection reached over3.3 trillion VND.

In implementing the government’s resolutionNo. 11, the province halted 43 projects worth a total 150 billion VND,saved more than 54 billion VND from regular spending, built and handed1,156 houses for disadvantaged people, Chairman of the provincialPeople’s Committee Nguyen Chien Thang said.

The PM spoke highlyof the province’s achievements and at the same time, asked the leadersto focus their attention on agricultural production as the winter-springcrop’s output dropped by 2,800 tonnes over the same period last year.

Theprovince should take drastic measures to fulfil its 2011 socio-economicdevelopment plan which sets a GDP growth rate of over 12 percent./.