Also attending the Conference were Comrade Nguyen Van Nen, Politburo member, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee; Party Central Committee members: Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, Minister, Head of the Government Office Tran Van Son, Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son, Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang, Minister of Construction Nguyen Thanh Nghi; leaders of ministries, branches, central agencies and localities in the Southeast region.

At the Conference, the Ministry of Planning and Investment reported on the implementation of the activities of the Southeast Regional Coordination Council in 2024. The Ministry of Science and Technology reported on the implementation of the Project to establish and promote the development of innovation and artificial intelligence startup centers in Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong province, and Dong Nai province.

The Ministry of Information and Communications reported on the implementation of the Project to build a dynamic IT industry zone, attracting investment in the production of electrical and electronic products, Internet of Things (IoT) products, and artificial intelligence in Dong Nai, Binh Duong, and Ba Ria - Vung Tau provinces.

Ba Ria - Vung Tau province reported on the implementation of the project to study a free trade zone associated with a seaport in Cai Mep Ha area; Dong Nai province discussed the development of traffic connecting Long Thanh airport; Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee proposed a plan to complete the city's urban railway network.

Three months ago (May 5, 2024), the 3rd Conference of the Southeast Regional Coordination Council in Tay Ninh province reviewed the implementation of Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW of the Politburo and Action Program of the Government No. 154/NQ-CP on socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security in the Southeast region; announced and implemented the Southeast Regional Planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050; reviewed specific regional policies and mechanisms; the implementation status of important projects and regional linkages.

According to reports and opinions at the Conference, of the 9 tasks assigned at the Conference in May, 3 more tasks have been completed so far: (i) Adding the planning of Can Gio international transit port to the master plan for the development of Vietnam's seaport system for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050; (ii) Approving the investment policy of the Ho Chi Minh City - Moc Bai Expressway Construction Investment Project (phase 1) under the public-private partnership method; (iii) The National Assembly issued a Resolution approving the investment policy of the Chon Thanh - Gia Nghia Expressway project.

Along with that, the recent socio-economic development results of the Southeast region continue to affirm the important position and role of the region as an economic locomotive of the whole country, leading in innovation, creativity, dynamism and development.

Although accounting for only over 9% of the area, the Southeast region contributes about 1/3 of GDP and over 44% of the national budget revenue. The total state budget revenue in 7 months reached 452,000 billion VND, ranking second after the Red River Delta. Export value reached over 59.2 billion USD, 31% of the country's exports, ranking second after the Red River Delta (accounting for nearly 35%).

The Southeast region has the largest number of newly registered and re-operated enterprises among the six economic regions with 58,246 enterprises, an increase of 9.8%. The region continues to lead the country in both the number of projects and total foreign direct investment capital implemented as of July 20, 2024, equivalent to 20,000 projects and 187.4 billion USD, of which Ho Chi Minh City ranks first in the country (accounting for nearly 32% of the number of projects and nearly 12% of the total registered capital).

Up to now, 6/6 localities in the region have completed the establishment and submission of planning appraisal, and the Prime Minister has approved 5/6 provincial planning.

Early start of construction of 3 key expressways

In his concluding remarks, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh basically agreed with the content of the report and opinions expressed at the Conference, and assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment to coordinate with the Government Office and relevant ministries and localities to study and absorb the opinions raised to the maximum extent, in order to continue to effectively advise the Southeast Regional Coordination Council in the process of implementing the Regional Planning in the coming time.

The Prime Minister welcomed the efforts of the members of the Regional Coordination Council and related ministries, branches and localities to help complete the three important tasks completed after the third Conference; at the same time, he acknowledged, commended and highly appreciated the determination, efforts and responsibility of the leaders, people and businesses of the Southeast region, with the spirit of proactiveness, positivity, creativity and innovation, achieving important results, contributing to the overall achievements of the whole country in recent times.

Besides, the Prime Minister pointed out that the development process of the Southeast region in recent times still faces a number of limitations, difficulties and challenges.

The region's economic growth in the first 6 months reached only 5.58%, lower than the national average, only higher than the Central Highlands (3.86%). The growth model is slowly transforming, and the region's growth momentum is slowing down.

The quality of economic growth in the region is not really sustainable due to the lack of resilience and timely solutions to negative external factors.

Industry is one of the three important pillars of the region, but development is still unsustainable, with low added value, unreasonable allocation, and heavy dependence on foreign direct investment enterprises.

Environmental pollution and flooding are pressing issues that are slow to improve, especially in Ho Chi Minh City. The investment and business environment and competitiveness are still limited; regional connectivity is not tight.

To improve the effectiveness of organizing the implementation of the Regional Planning in the coming time and maximize the potential and advantages of the Southeast region, the Prime Minister emphasized a number of directions and tasks.

Accordingly, ministries, branches and localities need to proactively and actively complete with quality the tasks assigned in the Government's Resolutions and the decisions of the Chairman of the Regional Coordination Council to issue the Action Plan for 2023 and 2024; proactively follow the situation and promptly reflect policies.

Regarding the common and key tasks , the Prime Minister requested ministries, branches and localities, according to their functions, tasks and powers, to review the goals and targets set from now until 2024 to make drastic efforts and strive to complete them, contributing to the goal of promoting growth, stabilizing the macro economy, controlling inflation and ensuring major balances.

At the same time, actively and resolutely implement planning work. Review bottlenecks and legal problems in practice to propose amendments to a number of laws, especially the Law on Public Investment, together with central ministries and branches. Promote disbursement of public investment capital to lead private investment, activating all resources in society.

At the same time, focus on promoting three traditional growth drivers (investment, export, consumption) and promoting new growth drivers (such as digital transformation, green transformation, circular economy, sharing economy, knowledge economy, semiconductor chips, hydrogen, artificial intelligence, etc.). Close and synchronous coordination between ministries, sectors and localities to resolve difficulties and obstacles, and strengthen regional connectivity.

"Promote disbursement of public investment capital; promote innovation, application of science and technology, the 4th industrial revolution, focus on emerging industries; promote training of high-quality human resources, contributing to implementing one of the 3 strategic breakthroughs set forth by the 13th National Congress," the Prime Minister emphasized.

Regarding specific tasks, the Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Planning and Investment to soon organize a conference to review 2 years of implementing the Politburo's Resolutions on developing socio-economic regions, on that basis, issue the Prime Minister's Directive on regional development.

Ministries, branches and localities are assigned to urgently complete research tasks for regional and inter-regional projects: International Financial Center Project in Ho Chi Minh City, Free Trade Center in Ba Ria - Vung Tau, and connecting road systems.

The Prime Minister assigned Ho Chi Minh City to preside over and submit outstanding policy mechanisms under the authority of the National Assembly for the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 4 Project at the Council's meeting in November 2024.

Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Tay Ninh, and Binh Phuoc urgently complete the next procedures for the Ho Chi Minh City - Moc Bai, Chon Thanh - Gia Nghia, and Ho Chi Minh City - Thu Dau Mot - Chon Thanh expressways, striving to start construction on April 30, 2025.

Relevant agencies continue to research, review, revise, integrate and incorporate mechanisms and policies, including resource mobilization policies, especially for localities in the Southeast region with high revenue potential, creating conditions for infrastructure investment, especially expressways, national highways and projects passing through the provinces to prepare for investment in the coming period.