HCM CITY — The industrial production sector should strengthen production, investment and exports in the remaining months of the year to surpass the annual target set by the Government, says Vu Huy Hoang, Minister of Industry and Trade.
Speaking at an online – meeting to review the sector's performance in the first nine months and set tasks for the last three, Hoang said industrial production for the whole year is expected to increase by 14 per cent, higher than the Government's 12 per cent target.
Industrial production in the first nine months of the year surged 13.8 per cent year-on-year, reaching roughly VND574.5 trillion (US$30.24 billion), he said.
In September alone, industrial production was valued at VND70.7 trillion ($3.7 billion), up 15.1 per cent over the same period last year.
The fourth quarter is the most important stage since high growth in this stage will create the proper momentum for the sector to enter a new year, he said.
Although the sector has achieved strong growth in the past several months, industrial production has not created export products of high added value, mostly focusing on outsourcing products.
The sector's development efficiency therefore remains low while supporting industries have not developed, delegates at the meeting said.
In addition, power shortages and high interest rates have caused and will continue to cause difficulties for businesses, they added.
Hoang asked the Electricity of Viet Nam Group to co-operate with the Viet Nam National Petroleum Group (PVN) and Viet Nam Coal and Minerals Industries Corporation to step up efforts to meet power consumption demand.
PVN, for instance, should shorten the time taken for gas pipeline maintenance at its power plants in Ca Mau Province, he said.
"The power sector must ensure sufficient power supply for industrial production in any situation," Hoang stressed.
Regarding high bank loan interest rates and exchange rates, Hoang said the recent appreciation of the US dollar against the dong has benefited exporters, but caused difficulties for import companies.
He ordered relevant agencies to work with the State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) to ensure sufficient supply of dollars for enterprises who need to import materials for their production.
He also suggested that the SBV reduces interest rates to support enterprises in developing their production and trading activities.
To ensure the sector's sustainable development, it needs to improve labour productivity, promote development of auxiliary industries and improve investment efficiency, said Le Van Duoc, director of the Planning Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Developing auxiliary industries would help businesses become more active in production and gradually reduce reliance on imports, he said.
Delegates at the meeting petitioned the Ministry of Industry and Trade to enhance the programme that brings Vietnamese goods to rural areas and set up distribution agents in these areas so that domestic products can gain a strong foothold in the rural market. — VNS
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