Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has urged leading authorities in Phongsaly to pay attention to socio-economic development strategies in enhancing people’s livelihoods after visiting several projects in the province.
The PM led his delegation to Phongsaly province last Saturday after completing earlier visits to Luang Prabang and Oudomxay provinces.
During the visit Mr. Thongloun was provided a report on the province’s socio-economic development situation and potentials by Governor of Phongsaly province, Mr. Khamjane Vongphosy.
Mr. Khamjane reported that Phongsaly province has continuously progressed in socio-economic development in the first nine months of 2014-2015, with its economy growing by 9.32 percent and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) GDP per capita reaching US$840.
He said the province approved 77 villages as model development villages, 123 villages as model cultural villages and 13,602 families as model development families.
Phongsaly had mobilised revenue of more than 45.98 billion kip, accounting for 90.22 percent of the yearly plan.
The province has bolstered friendly relations and comprehensive cooperation with its neighbouring provinces in Vietnam and China along with seeking assistance and funds elsewhere to further contribute to socio-economic development.
Mr. Khamjane also reported progress on the implementation of the construction project of the new Phongsaly provincial capital in Bounneua district.
Mr. Thongloun visited the building site for the new capital in Bounneua district, the construction project for the Road 1A between Bounneua and Lantui and the provincial hospital.
He congratulated provincial authorities as well as local people in their contribution to the country’s development and protection, especially provincial socio-economic development.
Mr. Thongloun urged authorities to pay attention to economic development in a bid to enhance people’s livelihoods by considering poverty eradication as priority along with exploration of the province’s potentials in processing and agriculture production promotion.
Efforts should continue to support the fine culture and harmony of ethnic groups, increase attention to efforts supporting international relations and cooperation to attract more foreign investment into the province, while managing and monitoring government and private investment projects to ensure all agreements are effectively implemented and completed in a timely manner as planned.
PM said authorities must earnestly seek to resolve social issues including drug sales, consumption and proliferation.
They must also pay attention to work on the provincial capital relocation to ensure the new site will become a modern urban area and a model for urban development in northern provinces and beyond.
Those responsible must manage their budgets and minimise expenses in construction and management of the project.
Source: Vientiane Times
