HaiPhong (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung has urged thenorthern port city of Hai Phong to fully tap its potential and advantages inorder to boost socio-economic development, thus creating an impetus for thenorthern key economic region.

Duringa working session with the municipal authorities in the city on March 2, DeputyPM Dung said the city has several large and sustainable industrial and serviceprojects, which are expected to help Hai Phong achieve high growth.

Thecity needs to continue restructuring its economy in tandem with reviewing andadjusting its planning scheme, with a focus placed on key industrial sectors,such as automobile production, sea tourism, urban infrastructure, economic andindustrial zones, seaports and logistic services, he said.

DeputyPM Dung also visited the Hai Phong-based VinFast automobile production factory,where he spoke highly of the project investor Vingroup’s resolve to concentrateresources on producing Vietnam-branded automobiles.

TheDeputy PM highlighted great potential of the domestic automobile market withover 90 million people and increasing incomes, and stressed that the sector’slocalisation rate remains low.

Thegovernment has actively worked with relevant ministries and sectors to addressdifficulties facing the automobile industry, Dung said, affirming that theGovernment supports the development of the sector, thus creating a premise forthe stronger growth of other supporting industries.

Developingthe automobile industry will create jobs, increase State budget collection, boosteconomic growth, and reduce trade deficit, he noted.

Thegovernment hopes that Vietnam will soon have its own automobile brands whichare able to compete with imported vehicles in terms of quality, design, featuresand prices, he said.

Dungurged the Vingroup to focus more on developing supporting businesses, increasingthe localisation rate, and accelerating the construction progress of thefactory and development of products.

TheDeputy PM also asked ministries, sectors to complete relevant legal frameworksto facilitate domestic investments in the automobile sector, with prioritiesgiven to the supporting industry.

Duringhis working visit, Deputy PM Dung also inspected the construction of Lach HuyenPort on Cat Hai island in Cat Hai district, affirming that the project aims todevelop seaport services, thus meeting the international and domestic demand,as well as facilitating the city’s growth.

Heurged contractors to accelerate the construction so that the project can be putinto operation on schedule.

TheLach Huyen Port project, with a total investment of over 6.2 trillion VND (273.1million USD), was launched on May 12, 2016. It is expected to be completed byApril 2018 and put into operation by May 12, 2018.

Accordingto the city’s report, Hai Phong achieved all set economic targets in 2017. Thelocal investment condition continued seeing improvements. Hai Phong wasconsidered one of the country’s most attractive destinations for investors,with strongly improved transport and urban infrastructure. In the year, thecross-sea bridge of Tan Vu-Lach Huyen was inaugurated, together withother key roads and bridges.

Inthe first two months of 2018, the city’s industrial production index wentup 20.61 percent year on year. Its export revenue reached 1.14 billion USD, up24.14 percent. Up to 16 million tonnes of cargo were handled at the Hai PhongPort, up 18.34 percent. It contributed over 9.1 trillion VND (400 million USD)to the State budget.-VNA