HCM City (VNA) – Working sessions will be heldbetween Government leaders with Ho Chi Minh City authorities on a quarterlybasis to seek ways to remove difficulties and boost socio-economic developmentof the southern economic hub, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh while workingwith municipal leaders on July 27.

PM Chinh suggested the formation of a taskforce comprisingleaders of ministries and sectors and the People’s Committee of HCM City andled by the Minister-Chairman of the Government Office, aiming to deal withdifficulties and obstacles emerging during the city’s development.

According to a report of the city People’s Committee, afterputting COVID-19 under control, HCM City has recorded fast, synchronousand comprehensive economic recovery, with gross regional domestic products (GRDP) growth reaching 3.82% in the first half of this year.

Total export revenue of the city in the period was estimatedat 24.9 billion USD, up 14% year on year. Total State budget collection so farthis year hit 282 trillion VND (over 12 billion USD), equal to 73.2% of the yearly target and representing a rise of 20% year on year. The Index of Industrial Production(IIP) in the first seven months of this year also rose 7.7%.

So far, the city has completed 13 out of 16 groups of tasks assignedby the Prime Minister, and is actively working on the remaining.

During the working session, leaders of the city gave anumber of proposals to the Government, including measures tospeed up a number of infrastructure projects, including the Belt Road No.4.

PM Chinh hailed the city’s efforts and achievements so farthis year, while pointing out a number of shortcomings of the city, including theslow disbursement of public investment capital, and problems arising during theimplementation of some projects.

Reminding HCM City to continue to stay vigilant against the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government leader required the city to speed upvaccination and shore up personnel for local healthcare network.

The city should focus on completing all 19 socio-economictargets for the year, especially the goal of 6-6.5% inGRDP growth, he said.

He stressed the need for the city to mobilise socialresources for the development of infrastructure system, while reviewing urbanplanning, strengthening human resources development, speeding up administrativereform, promoting digital transformation, and improving locals’ livingconditions.

He assigned ministries and sectors to coordinate with eachother to respond to requests and proposals of the city.

Earlier, PM Chinh and the Government working group inspectedthe Metro Line No.1 project in the city, which is expected to complete in thefourth quarter of 2023. The nearly 20km-long Metro Line No. 1 has totalinvestment of over 43.7 trillion VND (1.9 billion USD) and consists of threeunderground stations and 11 elevated ones. It was initially scheduled forcompletion in late 2021 and run commercially in 2022, but then delayed due tothe pandemic’s impact and procedure-related problems.

He also visited the location chosen for the implementationof the 3.7-trillion-VND (158.27 million USD) An Phu intersection in Thu Duccity - one of the gateway projects aiming to reduce congestion for the Ho Chi MinhCity - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway and the road to Cat Lai port./.