The port on the Sai Gon River in HCM City's District 7 is a busy hub. In the last four months, the city has seen higher export and revenue growth in the agriculture, forestry, fishery, industry and transport sectors. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Phan

HCM CITY — Higher export growth was recorded during the first four months of the year in HCM City, according to figures released during a meeting of the People's Committee on Wednesday.

The city's export value reached US$9.2 billion, a year-on-year increase of 15.6 per cent, the Department of Industry and Trade said.

Another good sign was that export growth was higher than imports, which rose to $8.04 billion, a year-on-year increase of 19.5 per cent. Imports comprised mostly raw materials, equipment and facilities.

"This shows that the production situation of enterprises has improved," said Huynh Khanh Hiep, deputy director of the Department of Industry and Trade.

In the first four months, revenue growth was seen in the agriculture, forestry, fisheries, industry and transport sectors.

Total retail sales and services as well as tourism revenue also rose compared to the same period last year, while industrial production increased by 4 per cent.

For April, the city's inventory index is estimated to go up by 7.3 per cent, a fall of 2.8 per cent against last month.

Also, the city estimates that the April CPI rate will fall by 0.33 per cent compared to March.

However, for the first four months of the year, the city's CPI increased by 2.44 per cent against the same period last year.

In April, the city estimates that it has created 27,400 jobs, up 10.5 per cent against last month.

During the first four months, a total of 97,700 jobs were created, meeting 36.9 per cent of the city's target.

At the meeting, the People's Committee established eight task groups that will oversee measures to support companies' sales and help them increase production activity next month.

Nguyen Phuoc Trung, deputy director of the city's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the city continued to take steps to prevent outbreaks of bird flu. This year, there have been no outbreaks in the city.

However, the city reported that 78 places were engaging in illegal poultry trading and slaughtering.

Le Hoang Quan, chairman of the People's Committee, said that local veterinary agencies would be held responsible for illegal trading and slaughtering of poultry and these sites must resolve their problems by the end of May, or they will be closed, he said. — VNS