Ben Tre province focuses on accelerating the construction progress of key projects. (Photo: HOANG TRUNG)

In the first 6 months of the year, Ben Tre province's economic growth is estimated at 7.18%, higher than the same period. The agricultural, forestry and fishery production situation is relatively favorable, saline intrusion has occurred but has not significantly affected crops and livestock.

The work of preventing and combating drought and salinity has been implemented from the beginning of the year, regularly monitoring and forecasting salinity intrusion to proactively operate salinity prevention works. At the same time, people are informed and instructed to implement measures to prevent drought and salinity and store fresh water.

Industrial and handicraft production activities in Ben Tre province continue to recover. Currently, enterprises and establishments are focusing on increasing production to achieve growth and development goals. Accordingly, the value of industrial and handicraft production is estimated at 19.93 trillion VND, up 12.54% over the same period.

Production activities in industrial parks and clusters are maintained. In particular, Phu Thuan Industrial Park and the project of Workers' Housing and Resettlement Area serving Phu Thuan Industrial Park are being accelerated. The province is actively calling for investment in developing industrial clusters. To date, there are 22 projects registered for investment, with a total registered investment capital of over 5 trillion VND.

Trade and service activities were quite vibrant, with abundant supply of goods, many attractive promotions, reasonable prices, serving well the shopping needs of people, especially during holidays and Tet, contributing to promoting the growth of the service sector.

Total retail sales of goods and consumer services were estimated at 36.41 trillion VND, up 10.07% over the same period. The One Commune One Product program continued to be developed. Import and export activities were maintained, with export turnover estimated at 966.2 million USD, up 21.23%, reaching 50.06% of the resolution; some products increased significantly over the same period; export prices of coconut products increased significantly over the same period last year.

Tourism activities achieved many positive results. According to statistics, in the first 6 months of 2025, Ben Tre province is estimated to welcome more than 1.5 million visitors, an increase of 18.67% over the same period in 2024; of which, international visitors reached 542,080. Total revenue from tourists reached over 2 trillion VND...

State management of tourism in the province has been focused on, and sectors and localities have organized many activities and events to serve and attract tourists.

Ben Tre province has created favorable conditions for production and business enterprises. (Photo: HOANG TRUNG)

The estimated state budget revenue in Ben Tre province in the first 6 months of the year was over 3.98 trillion VND, reaching 62.50% of the estimate, up 10.67% over the same period. The estimated total local budget expenditure in the first 6 months of the year was over 7.41 trillion, reaching 43.27% of the estimate, up 53.57% over the same period.

Of which, investment expenditure reached 33.66% of the capital plan, and regular expenditure reached 50.0% of the estimate. Allocating details and assigning 100% of the public investment plan from the State budget in 2025. It is estimated that in the first 6 months of the year, the disbursement of public investment capital sources was over 2.499 trillion VND, reaching an estimated 33.66% of the plan.

Recently, at the 21st Ben Tre Provincial Party Conference, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairwoman of the Ben Tre Provincial People's Council Ho Thi Hoang Yen requested Party committees and organizations at all levels to lead and direct the urgent implementation of tasks and solutions for socio-economic development in the remaining months of 2025 with specific programs and plans, clearly assigning people, tasks, and progress to achieve and exceed the targets of the Provincial Party Committee Resolution and Party committees at all levels in 2025.

In particular, it is necessary to focus on directing drastically and synchronously to complete the socio-economic targets in 2025, especially those targets that are still below 50%, such as: Rate of trained workers with certificates, improving SIPAS, PCI indicators, waste collection and treatment rate, public investment disbursement, attracting non-budgetary investment...

At the same time, attention should be paid to speed up the disbursement progress of public investment capital, striving for the disbursement rate in 2025 100%; organise to review, inspect, and recover projects that are slow to implement, violate regulations to receive effective investment projects; timely resolve difficulties and problems regarding investment procedures, site clearance, etc; link disbursement work with reviewing the responsibilities of leaders if the plan is not completed.

In addition, it is necessary to focus on promoting administrative reform, improving the investment environment, enhancing investment promotion with focus, key points, creating favorable conditions for production and business enterprises; effectively implement key credit programmes and policies, expand safe and effective credit associated with improving credit quality, directing capital flows to production, business, priority areas, growth drivers, etc.