Hanoi (VNA) - Hanoi needs to seek new, breakthrough, sustainable momentum forgrowth in order to materialise its development vision, said Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc.

Theleader was speaking at the conference “Hanoi 2018 - Investment and DevelopmentCooperation” in Hanoi on June 17, the city’s largest investment promotion forumin the year with the participation of nearly 1,000 businesspeople and investorsat home and abroad.

Hanoishould devise a master plan and an action programme for its development, hesaid, taking Cau Giay district as an example, which has emerged from a verypoor locality into an urban area with industrial value exceeding 43 trillionVND (1.9 billion USD) and State budget contribution of over 7 trillion VND (308billion USD) thanks to the effective planning scheme.

ThePM noted his belief that the capital city will take the lead nationwide indeveloping Industry 4.0 and the digital economy, while speeding up the buildingof a smart city.

Heurged the city to create high-quality human resources in spearhead sectors likeartificial intelligence and data science, and carry forward its role as thecountry’s cradle in personnel training in natural sciences like mathematics,physics and computer science.

Healso asked the city to provide timely support for investors when they meetdifficulties, and create breakthroughs in land-related procedures forinvestors.

Besides,more attention should be paid to the construction of public facilities such asparks and public toilets, with all toilets at schools and hospitals satisfyingset standards, the leader said.

Hecalled on investors to promptly carry out projects in the city, and urgedmunicipal authorities and investors to coordinate with each other in landclearance.

ApplaudingHanoi’s achievements in socio-economic development over the past time,especially its efforts in building the e-Government, PM Phuc expressed his hopethat the city will promote its locomotive role in development in the Red RiverDelta region and the country as well.

Speakingat the conference, Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Hoang Trung Hai,said the event demonstrates Hanoi’s commitments to improving the businessenvironment, accompanying enterprises and turning the private economic sectorinto an important impulse in the city’s economic reform.

Chairmanof the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung revealed that Hanoi aims tohelp start-ups with all expenditures and convenient services from August 1,2018. This proposal is expected to be presented at the sixth meeting of themunicipal People’s Council in early July, 2018.

Hesaid domestic private investments make up 51.1 percent of the city’s totalinvestment capital. The city, to date, has attracted 2,200 projects run byprivate investors, worth more than one quadrillion VND (44 billion USD).

Asof June 15, more than 4,300 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects valued at33.38 billion USD had come to the city. In 2016-2017 and the first six monthsof this year, the city lured 12.46 billion USD in FDI, equivalent to the numberrecorded during 1986-2015, Chung said.

Atthe conference, Hanoi signed memoranda of understanding on cooperation withother localities including Ha Nam, Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh, Nam Dinh, Bac Ninh,Hung Yen, Vinh Phuc, Hai Duong, Son La and Bac Giang, and agencies,organisations and investors.

Onthis occasion, the city handed over investment decisions and licences to 71projects worth 397.33 trillion VND (17.48 billion USD), including 11 FDIprojects with total investment capital of over 130 trillion VND (5.72 billionUSD).-VNA