Thai Binh recommended to expand development space towards the sea. (Photo: VNA)

Local officials reported that despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s impacts, the northern province has exerted strong efforts and obtained significant results, including a COVID-19 fatality of just 0.026 percent, much lower than the national average of 0.4 percent, and GRDP growth of 6.68 percent last year and 7.44 percent in the first quarter of 2022 (ranking 14th and 16th among the 63 provinces and cities, respectively).

PM Chinh spoke highly of Thai Binh’s performance but also pointed out that it has yet to fully tap into its potential, requesting the province overcome itself so as to make breakthroughs, develop sustainably, and improve per capita income.

As Thai Binh boasts much potential and favourable conditions for socio-economic development, it needs to optimise those advantages to boost development, he said.

Suggesting the development space be expanded towards the sea, the Government leader told the province to press on with economic restructuring in a sustainable, stable, and effective manner while maintaining agriculture as a pillar of local development and promoting hi-tech farming.

The PM asked for focus to be put on developing strategic infrastructure, especially transport facilities, stepping up administrative reforms, improving the provincial competitiveness index, and increasing human resources training in order to create combined strength for socio-economic development.

He also underlined the importance of environmental protection, social security ensuring, defence - security consolidation, the Party building, and the political system reform.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh inspected the investment in as well as the construction and operation of the Thai Binh Economic Zone. (Photo: VGP)

On the same day of May 8, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh inspected a series of socio-economic locations in Thai Binh.

Examining the investment in as well as th construction and operation of the Thai Binh Economic Zone, Chinh affirmed the building of the site is in line with the Party’s policy and resolutions and with the province’s conditions.

Covering more than 30,000ha, including 8,000ha earmarked for industrial, urban and service development, the zone is expected to become a driving force and key economic development area of the province and the Southern Red River Delta region. The zone is now home to a number of key projects.

The PM highlighted the importance of related land clearance and resettlement works and requested the construction of a complete, interconnected and harmonious infrastructure, especially regarding traffic, electricity-water, worker housing, and environment.

At the zone, the leader inspected the construction site of the Thai Binh 2 thermal power plant in Thai Thuy district. Invested by the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), the building of the 1,200MW plant began in 2011.

He recommended efforts for the completion of the remaining workload, and said he is confident that following the set goal, the plant will join the national grid by the end of 2022.

On the day, the PM also attended a ceremony to start the construction of the southern ring road of Thai Binh city. The 8km road is estimated to cost more than 6,000 billion VND (261,364 USD).

Earlier, he attended the inauguration ceremony of a 7,000 m2 memorial site dedicated to the late President Ho Chi Minh in Thai Binh’s Tien Hai district.