Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has suggested the northern port city of Hai Phong invest in technology and digital economy, and attract high-tech businesses to gain higher added values.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the working session.
(Photo: VNA)

Hai Phong must be one of the country’s leading cities in the digital economy, PM Phuc said at a working session on May 10 with the Standing Board of the municipal Party Committee.

Besides, the city should pay more attention to logistics, towards becoming the largest logistics centre in the country, developing modern seaports meeting international standards, attracting airlines to open more domestic and international flights from Cat Bi International Airport, he said. 

Hai Phong needs to further develop tourism and service infrastructure, lure more investment in high-end hotels, resorts, tourist sites and entertainment areas, and create special products, PM Phuc said. 

He urged municipal leaders to work on long-term strategies and roadmaps, aiming to turn Hai Phong into a civilized, modern and sustainable city on par with other cities in Asia. 

The Government leader believed that comprehensive achievements Hai Phong has recorded over the past time will create momentum for the city to better fulfill its set targets. 

Le Van Thanh, Secretary of the municipal Party Committee, reported that Hai Phong has led the country in terms of economic growth, with gross regional domestic product (GRDP) in the first quarter of this year up 15.05 percent.

The city’s budget collection rose 33.7 percent to 8.52 trillion VND (365.7 million USD), while its Index of Industrial Production (IIP) expanded 23.01 percent, and export turnover increased 25.52 percent to 4.38 billion USD, he said.

However, Thanh pointed out difficulties facing the city like the overload of the inner-city and inter-regional transport systems and limited land areas for industrial zones.  

Given this, he proposed the early implementation of major transport projects in the city, and the expansion of the Trang Due industrial park.