Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at an online working session with authorities of northern Hung Yen Province on Friday. — VNA/VNS Photo

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has suggested the northern province of Hung Yen seize opportunities for development during an online working session with local authorities on Friday.

Speaking at the event, PM Phuc hailed Hung Yen for being one of the few localities that have been able to maintain a high growth rate amid the COVID-19 fight. It is also one of the localities chosen to lead development following the period of focusing on pandemic control.

The Government leader underlined the province’s development potential and quality workforce, saying its proximity to Ha Noi will enable the province to develop industry, agriculture and services.

According to the PM, Hung Yen has become one of the top contributors to the State budget even though it has an agriculture-reliant economy.

The province has performed well in attracting foreign direct investment and is home to 11,000 enterprises.

He proposed the province diversify investment, choose large-scale projects to tap its strength in light industry, farm produce processing, high-tech agriculture, transportation, tourism, services, education and high-quality health care.

Commending Hung Yen for bringing the poverty rate down to 1.9 per cent last year, the PM urged the province to reduce the rate to 1 per cent or lower.

In the immediate future, the locality must strive to achieve the dual goal of preventing the pandemic from returning while restoring economic development towards meeting or surpassing targets to contribute to national growth this year.

It was reported at the meeting that despite the COVID-19 outbreak in the first quarter, the province still posted growth of nearly 6.9 per cent and collected more than VND3.5 trillion (US$152 million) for the State budget. — VNS