Ba Ria – Vung Tau (VNA) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who is also Chairman of the Coordinating Council for the Southeast Region, urged more solutions and stronger efforts to reach double-digit growth for the region in 2025 and beyond, while chairing the 5th meeting of the council in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province on December 2.

The meeting, themed "Southeast region's double-digit economic growth for 2025: Challenges, opportunities, and solutions," reviewed the socio-economic situation of the region in 2024, focusing on the implementation of regional driving projects; mechanisms and the mobilisation of investment resources for infrastructure construction and inter-regional transport connectivity projects; and the development of high-quality human resources in high-tech sectors. Solutions to challenges in implementing key programmes and projects were also put on the table.

PM Chinh acknowledged and commended efforts and significant results of the entire region and its localities in recent times, saying those have importantly contributed to the country's achievements.

However, he also frankly pointed out limitations, including a slowing GRDP growth rate, underwhelming public investment disbursement, and the lack of sustainable industrial development, along with roadblocks to transportation infrastructure and shortcomings in logistics services.

He also noted that the implementation of the council's tasks remains sluggish with many projects yet to be carried out.

The Government leader requested the council, its members, and ministries, agencies, and localities in the region to continue to perfect institutions and remove bottlenecks to pave the way for development. He underlined the need to revitalise three traditional growth drivers —investment, export, and consumption, and while promoting new engines such as digital economy, green economy, circular economy, sharing economy, knowledge economy, and nighttime economy.

It is also necessary to concentrate on training high-quality human resources, particularly in emerging sectors; restructuring governance in a smarter fashion, using digital technologies; enhancing security and order management, and combating corruption and wastefulness; and researching and proposing mechanisms and policies to address challenges to development, he said.

He demanded greater efforts to speed up the implementation of key regional projects, including Ring Road No.4, the Can Gio international container transhipment port, a flood-control project, and an international financial hub in Ho Chi Minh City; and a free trade zone and an offshore wind power industrial centre in Ba Ria – Vung Tau.

He also asked relevant ministries and sectors to coordinate with localities to review and push ahead with the construction of regional connectivity projects, including one connecting Tan Son Nhat International Airport and Long Thanh International Airport, to complete necessary procedures for the Binh Phuoc - Dak Nong and HCM City - Tay Ninh expressway projects in the first quarter of 2025 to soon begin their construction, and consider the building of the HCM City - Bien Hoa railway linked with Thi Vai - Cai Mep and Can Gio Ports.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is tasked with addressing land and environmental issues in a timely manner. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Science and Technology will handle matters related to developing hi-tech zones.

The PM requested council members to be more proactive in implementing tasks and solutions to strongly and effectively promote regional coordination activities, especially regional and inter-regional projects, focusing on resolving difficulties and obstacles to ensure projects are completed as scheduled./.