HCM City (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuchad a meeting with leaders of Ho Chi Minh City on April 12 on theimplementation of special policies and procedures to shorten times for thecompensation, resettlement, and handover of land during ground clearance forinfrastructure development in the city.

A report showed that in the first quarter of 2019, thecity’s GRDP grew 7.64 percent, with the service sector making up 63.1 percentof the economic structure and the agriculture sector only accounting for 0.6percent.

HCM City’s budget collection was estimated at over 98.36trillion VND, up 7.18 percent year-on-year and reaching 24.65 percent of theyearly estimate.

Leaders of the municipal People’s Committee proposed anumber of special mechanisms and procedures to save time in ground clearancefor local projects.

They held that it is necessary to clarify the stages of theprocedure and the specific agencies responsible for it; allocating time forcompletion of the work in each stage; and defining the maximum time for theconclusion of compensation, support, resettlement, and handover of sites.

Addressing the working session, PM Phuc lauded the city’sperformance so far this year, noting that the city has taken the lead inapplying technology and improving labour productivity.

However, he pointed out that FDI poured into the city hasyet to match its potential, while foreign investment in processing-manufacturinghas remains modest. The PM requested the city work harder in administrativereform to optimise its role as the region’s connection point.

In addition, the PM asked the city to pay greater attentionto raiding drug trafficking rings to ensure social security.

PM Phuc directed the city to seek ways to remove obstacleshindering development; take on its pioneering role in building a smart andcreative city; improve competitiveness; and maintain its position as one of thedriving forces for the country’s economic development as a hub of finance,trade, science, and technology both nationally and within ASEAN.

He requested that HCM City complete the new-style rural areabuilding programme in 2019.

He directed ministries and sectors to support the city indealing with issues related to some projects, including the Metro Line No.1.

Regarding the city’s proposal on special mechanisms andprocedures to shorten times for the compensation, resettlement, and handover ofland for local projects, the PM affirmed that the Government supports the cityin the field.

He assigned the Ministry of Natural Resources andEnvironment to collect ideas from other ministries and sectors before debatingthe matter at the upcoming government meeting to serve as a foundation for theGovernment to issue a resolution helping the city to pilot the specialmechanisms.

On the occasion, the PM visited the smart city operationcentre in HCM City.–VNA