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PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng addresses the opening ceremony of the 2 nd session of the 12 th NA
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PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng briefed some major socio-economic development achievements in 2007, including the highest economic growth rate for the past decade (8.5 percent). Up to now, nearly 4 million of poor households and 1.7 million of disadvantaged people have had an access to capital sources under ten State preferential programs; as a result the poverty rate was reduced to 14.7 percent from 18 percent in 2006.
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Major socio-economic targets for 2008
Total GDP growth: 8.5-9 percent to reach aound US$ 83 billion;
Total export turnover: US$ 57.6-58.6 billion, going up by 20-22 percent against 2007;
Number of provinces with standards of junior secondary educational universalization: 46 among 64;
Tertiary educational enrollment increases by 13 percent, professional secondary education 16.5 percent, vocational college and high-schools 18 percent;
Jobs generated for 1.7 million laborers, including 850,000 for labor export;
Poverty rate reduced to 11-12 percent;
Clean water supplied to 75 percent and 85 percent of the population in rural and urban areas respectively;
Forest coverage by late 2008: 40 percent
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The Government chief also pointed out some weaknesses of the economy as well as drawbacks of the Government’s performances, resulting in high trade deficits, poor industrial safety, a high number of traffic accidents, low productivity, low quality and competitiveness of products, and a slow economic restructure.
The PM put forth the major targets for 2008 and asked the NA, Việt Nam Fatherland Front, mass organization and the entire people to supervise, cooperate and join hands in making use of opportunities and overcoming challanges and difficultires in order to fulfill socio-economic development tasks in 2008.
PM Dũng confirmed that, in 2008, the Government will pledge itself to apply overall solutions and policies adopted by the 10 th Party Congress and the NA to put the 5-year plan 2006–2010 into reality. He stressed nine main groups of solutions, one of which is to proactively improve investment and business environment, speed up growth rate, improve the economy’s quality, efficiency, competitiveness and sustainability as well as to boost the renewal of State-run enterprises focusing on equitization.
The PM suggested that salary and social insurance policies should be reformed; construction of schools, transport and irrigation accelerated; 30 strategic communication projects to 2020 invested; a sufficient counter capital for ODA projects provided for disadvantaged localities; and human resources developed.
He also mentioned some solutions to properly deal with social issues, environmental protection, and administrative reforms; actively fight against corruption and prodigality; exercise thrift practice; maintain the country’s sovereignty, political security and social order; expand diplomatic activities to raise Việt Nam’s position on international arena.
By Xuân Hồng
