Hanoi (VNA) – Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Vuong DinhHue ordered departments, sectors and localities to remove bottlenecks for localbusinesses with a view to realising the 4.5-5 percent GDP growth target thisyear.

He made the request while chairing a working session on September 10 withcompetent agencies to discuss socio-economic development solutions in the cityin 2020.

In response to the appeal of the Party General Secretary and President, Directivesof the Politburo, the Party Central Committee’ Secretariat, the Prime Minister,and decrees of the Government on carrying out the dual tasks of fightingCOVID-19 pandemic and boosting socio-economic development, Hanoi has put theoutbreak under control, supported business and investment activities, andensured social welfare for the public, Hue said.

The top priority for capital city now is still disease prevention, while makinggood preparations for activities to mark the 1,010th anniversary ofThang Long-Hanoi and the city’s 17th Party congress, he said, addingthat at the same time, drastic measures must be taken to recover the economy.

According to Director of Hanoi Tax Department Mai Son, budget collection in thefirst eight months of the year, excluding the rescheduled taxes and land usefees, amounted to more than 147 trillion VND (6.34 billion USD), accounting for56.5 percent of the estimate and 89.4 percent of the same time last year.However, disbursement of public investment capital lagged behind progress as itonly made up of 45.41 percent of the yearly plan.

At the event, participants expressed their determination to reformadministrative procedures as well as continue with support for investors andlocal firms amid the complicated development of the COVID-19 outbreak.

To date, the city has approved 122 out of 124 projects funded by public capitalplanned for 2020, and construction has begun for 76 projects.

Among 30 districts and towns, 25 have committed to disbursing public investmentcapital in line with schedule.

Hue lauded efforts made by all sectors in the past time, saying theycontributed to the city’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) of 3.49percent for the January-August period, which is 1.92 times higher than thenation’s average.

He urged relevant authorities to complete budget collection which was earlierset at 260.4 trillion VND, helping ensure sufficient resources for socialwelfare and investment.

Besides, all districts must drastically carry out the city’s DecreeNo.22/NQ-HDND to promote disbursement of all planned public investment, headded.

The municipal People’s Committee should set up five groups to help districtsand towns handle challenges while implementing socio-economic missions untilthe end of 2020, Hue said.

𓂃 The COVID-19 pandemic has caused difficulties for production and businessactivities in Hanoi.

More than1,200 enterprises implemented dissolution procedures from the beginning ofthe year in Hanoi alone, a year-on-year increase of 25 percent, and 7,075enterprises registered to suspend operations, up 49 percent. Earlier, the city held the Hanoi2020-Investment and Development Cooperation conference to attract domestic andforeign investment, especially the foreign direct investment (FDI), whichshowed the capital city’s determination to be a pioneer in economic recoveryand development post-COVID-19. The organisationof the conference was a strong message to affirm that Hanoi is a safeand stable destination for investors. The city hasfocused on boosting administrative reform, improving the investment andbusiness environment to call for investment and promote growth. The municipalPeople's Committee reported that foreign investment attraction of the cityreached 2.86 billion USD in the first eight months of the year, ranking secondin the country. Domesticinvestment attraction reached 9.16 trillion VND (393.1 million USD) with fournew projects and 26 projects increasing capital./.