Two female drug traffickers get death sentences
Two women have been sentenced to death and another to life imprisonment for trafficking of 10 heroin bricks and more than 200 methamphetamine pills.
On Monday, the Ha Noi People’s Court tried 32-year-old Do Thi Thu Huyen of Lang Son Province, 35-year-old Bui Thi Thu Thuy of Nam Dinh Province and 28-year-old Hoang Thi Nhu Chi of Lang Son, for drug trafficking.
According to prosecutors, at 2.30pm last Thursday, at the Yen Nghia gas station in Ha Dong District, Ha Noi, the police of Dan Phuong District in collaboration with the drug crime investigation department under the public security ministry searched the passengers of a coach going from Son La Province to Ha Noi. Passengers Bui Thi Thu Thuy and Hoang Thi Nhu Chi were found to be carrying drugs, including 10 bricks of heroin (each weighing about 0.3kg).
At the investigative agency, Thuy allegedly said due to difficult economic conditions, she had agreed to transport the drug from Hoa Binh Province to Lang Son Province for Do Thi Thu Huyen.
They were caught by the police at the Yen Nghia gas station.
Shortly after that, Do Thi Thu Huyen was remanded in custody.
At the conclusion of the trial, the Ha Noi People’s Court handed down death sentences to Do Thi Thu Huyen and Bui Thi Thu Thuy and sentenced Hoang Thi Nhu Chi to life imprisonment, all on the same count of drug trafficking.
VTC to merge with VOV
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) to merge Vietnam Television Corporation (VTC) with Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) to stabilise organisation and operations.
According to the MIC, merging VTC with VOV is in line with the national plan on development and management of national journalism up to 2025. It is expected to create favourable conditions for both groups to develop strongly.
While being incorporated into VOV, one of the important tasks of VTC is to facilitiate the National Assembly (NA) television channel, providing information on NA operations, and creating a bridge between the NA and voters across the country.
Earlier, the VOV was assigned by the NA Standing Committee to be the governing body for implementing the TV channel of the NA. The channel officially started airing on January 6, 2015.
In January 2015, the PM gave the green light for the VOV–VTC merger as suggested by VOV. The merger is said to be a step toward preparing for VOV to operate as a multimedia group in the future.
VTC was the first digital television station in Vietnam and its use of digital terrestrial television since 2004 has been the basis for the government to approve a plan for digitising television nationwide. It produces and broadcasts 15 channels across multiple infrastructures including digital terrestrial television, cable television, satellite television, internet protocol television, and internet television.
HCM City, France look towards closer co-operation
Vice Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Hong on April 14 met with a senior French official who is on a visit to explore co-operation between his country and Vietnam’s southern business hub.
The growing relations between Vietnam and France have enabled the two countries to strengthen their ties in all fields, Hong told Matthias Fekl, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, the Promotion of Tourism and French Nationals Abroad under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development.
Though HCM City has housed a number of French investments, its potential has yet to be fully tapped by firms from the European country, she noted, adding that it is looking forward to workshops with French companies to provide them with more information about their opportunities here.
The official appreciated France’s enormous assistance in agriculture, education, and health care over the past years, stressing that the city hopes for further support in these fields in the future, especially on how to treat post-harvest fruits for global export.
Matthias Fekl said he was impressed with the development of Vietnam and HCM City in particular, highlighting the expansion of the countries’ relations in various realms as well as cultural and economic exchanges between their localities.
He told his host that a number of young French entrepreneurs have expressed their interest in seeking investment opportunities in HCM City.
He voiced his belief that more French investments and effectively implemented projects in the time ahead will contribute to the growth of the city and Vietnam.
France currently ranks ninth among countries and territories investing in HCM City and their two-way trade in 2014 increased by 6% from a year earlier. The city welcomed around 100,000 French arrivals last year.
Fire breaks out at Thong Nhat Printing Company
A fire gutted more than 100 square metres of a warehouse and reams of waste paper at the Thong Nhat Printing Joint Stock Company on Nguyen Tuan Street.
The fire started at 11am on today at the factory located in the Thanh Xuan District of Ha Noi, with the smoke from the blaze infusing the air with a burning smell. The fire broke out near a petrol station, which scared residents.
As soon as they received the news, the Ha Noi Fire Prevention and Control Police dispatched 10 fire fighting trucks, with hundreds of fire-fighters to the scene.
The fire was put out at around 1pm with the help of residents in the surrounding areas.
No one was hurt by the fire, but the local police are investigating the cause of the fire.
Also on Tuesday, a fire broke out in the kitchen area of a restaurant on Nguyen Binh Khiem Street in Hai Phong City.
The fire was not extinguished as promptly so it spread, completely destroying the restaurant, a furniture store and a bar located next to the restaurant, in Ngo Quyen District, Hai Phong City.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported, but the loss of property was estimated at over VND 1 billion (US$46.290).
Snake bite victim saved at Bach Mai hospital
The Bach Mai General Hospital announced today that it had successfully saved the life of a 2-year-old boy, who was bitten by a venomous snake.
The boy was saved after being treated intensively for three days.
The patient Vu Mi Cha, belongs to the ethnic Mong community, and was bitten by a very dangerous snake called Kho Moc on April 1 at his house in Cao Bang Province. His parents just applied a tourniquet, but did not immediately send him to a hospital seeking emergency aid.
On the next day, Cha was taken to the Ha Giang Provincial Hospital before being hospitalised at the Bach Mai Hospital on the same day due to his blood becoming poisoned and his condition deteriorating with every passing hour.
The hospital’s Paediatrics Department Head Nguyen Tien Dung said Cha faced a high risk of fatality if he had not been admitted to the hospital in time.
“His parents were even proposing to take him home as they did not have the money for this treatment,” said Dung.
The boy’s health had recovered perfectly after a ten-day treatment with advanced medical facilities and techniques.
The hospital even gave him free treatment and mobilised VND800,000 (nearly US$40,000) from donors to help his family overcome their difficulties.
Cha was discharged from the hospital today.
Unsanitary pig skin processing businesses raided
HCM City Police’s Environmental Crimes Department collaborated with District 8’s concerned agencies to raid three pig skin processing businesses yesterday.
The business facilities were all located inside a rented house on Lane 80, Road 41, Ward 16 of District 8.
The businesses’ owners have been identified as Nguyen Thi Thu Ba (female), Nguyen Thi My Nu (female) and Nguyen Van Chanh (male), who are all natives of the Ben Tre Province.
Through inspections, it was found that these businesses were running without a business license, food safety certification or registration for veterinary hygiene inspection.
Authorised agencies recognised the production area for these businesses as unhygienic. Raw pig skins were found strewn on the floor, which was dotted with contaminated water. The skins were immersed in what was believed to be bleaching and swelling agents. — VNS
About four kilograms (kg) of chemical powder and crystals were also recovered from the scene.
Authorised agencies confiscated 234kg of chemical-soaked pig skin that will be destroyed.
The owners of the businesses allegedly admitted that they had bought the unprocessed pig skin from the Binh Dien wholesale market and after processing, the products were sold at markets in HCM City and some other provinces in the Mekong Delta.
Fire destroys 2,000-sq.m cotton workshop
A fire that broke out at 3:30pm today destroyed a 2,000-sq.m cotton and textile recycling workshop in Pham Van Hai Commune in HCM City’s Binh Chanh District.
Soon after the Phuong Dong workshop caught fire, workers tried to extinguish the blaze. But because of the large volume of stored cotton, the fire spread to other areas of the shop.
Fire police of Binh Chanh District arrived at the site together with 10 fire trucks.
As of 4:30pm, the fire was still not under control.
Workers said the fire started from a electrical short circuit. There had been no electricity yesterday morning at the shop, so several workers chose not to work. The fire occurred when the power returned later that day.
23 workers hospitalised after suspected food poisoning
As many as 23 construction workers were rushed to the hospital after they reported symptoms of food poisoning in the central province of Ha Tinh.
Workers from China’s 6th Chemical Construction Company in the Vung Ang Economic Zone in Ha Tinh Province’s Ky Anh District reported symptoms of stomach ache, vomiting, dizziness after having dinner at the company canteen yesterday.
They were transported to Ky Anh District’s General Hospital for treatment at 5.30pm. As of 10.30pm on the same day, 22 out of the 23 workers had been discharged. As soon as they were informed about the news, Ha Tinh Province’s Health Department authorities coordinated with the food administration, and Ky Anh district’s preventive medicine centre arrived at the company canteen and take samples for further investigation.
Phan Van Hung, the head of the province’s Department of Food Administration said the department had been working with other competent agencies for finding out the reasons for the poisoning of workers.
Ministry gives prizes to winners of TV report competition
The Ministry of Health yesterday gave prizes to winners of television report competition” Vietnam’s medicine sector and 60 years of following Uncle ho’s teaching”
The competition was launched by the Ministry and Vietnam’s Press Association four months ago. The organizers have received many entries from press organizations in the country. Entries reflect model of medical workers who are devoted in taking care of patients’ health.
This is the very first time that television report competion of health sector has received many good entries. The organizers decided to give the first prize to entry ” Silent hearts” of staffs of Health Education center in the central province of Nghe An.
Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said at the prize-giving ceremony that the competition was one of the activities to mark 60th year anniversary of the day when President Ho Chi Minh sent his letter to the health sector on February 27, 1955. Since then, February 27 has been chosen Vietnam Doctor’s Day.
FPT announces scholarship for outstanding students
The Ha Noi-based FPT High School has announced a VND500-million (US$23,0000) scholarship fund for students who won prizes at all levels in the entrance examination for the 2015-16 school year.
The students would be eligible to get 30, 50 or 70 per cent of the school fee, if they won the third prize or higher prizes in the district, city or national competitions, or the first prize in the Internet Olympic English and Math Olympic competitions for ninth-grade students.
Those who topped the school’s entrance examination would be able to get the scholarship.
Director of FPT Polytechnic Dam Quang Minh said the FPT High School expected to attract outstanding students who performed well at school and had life skills to integrate into the international community.
FPT High School, together with FPT University, which specialises in technology majors, are schools set up by IT group FPT.
The teaching and learning model applied at FPT schools has attracted special public attention, as FPT has been a pioneer in reforming the teaching methodology to conform to international standards.
District hospitals given a pass
Despite their key role in providing grassroots healthcare, sub-provincial health facilities receive insufficient attention and funding from the Government.
This is one of the problems responsible for the overloading at big hospitals across the country.
Health networks at sub-provincial levels includes district hospitals and healthcare centres. There are also health stations located in communes, wards, towns and villages.
However, many patients bypass local health providers straight to big hospitals.
“Only four or five patients come to our station a day although we also accept patients covered by health care insurance like big hospitals do,” said Nguyen Manh Dung, head of the Health Station in Ward 6, District 8 in HCM City. “The reason might be that the residents do not trust local health stations.”
This was reflected in the way Nguyen Thi Thang from Ha Noi spoke when she was asked about district health facilities. Thang and her family have ignored local health stations since a sister’s near-death experience at one grassroots clinic.
“My sister suffered from appendicitis, but a doctor at the local health station diagnosed her as having intestinal worms and gave her pills to treat the problem,” she said.
“As her pain got worse, my family decided to take her to Viet Duc hospital. The doctors there said that if we had been just a little slower, the consequence would have been very serious.”
Tran Tuan, director of the Research and Training Centre for Community Development, said many residents felt doctors at sub-provincial health facilities were unsatisfactory.
“Some patients went to the stations for medical tests, but they eventually threw the results away and went to big hospitals to have the tests again, even if it meant borrowing money to pay for fees and travel expenses,” he said.
One of the most difficult challenges facing health administrations is trying to hire qualified doctors to grassroots facilities.
In the northern province of Lai Chau, only one or two university graduates went to work in the province despite a talent-recruiting policy by the municipal Health Department in 2013.
Doctors’ disinterest in local health stations is due to low wages and the loss of opportunity to advance their skills by treating more patients and attending training sessions.
The poor state of local health facilities does little to attract doctors. A report by the Ministry of Health in 2012 said that 3.7 per cent of communes did not have health-station buildings, while about 28.9 per cent of 10,997 communal health stations were rundown and needed to be rebuilt.
Surveys in some stations, especially those in remote mountainous remote areas such as Yen Bai and Son La provinces, also showed they lacked up to 44 per cent of necessary medical equipment, mostly equipment used in obstetrics and diagnostics.
The Ministry of Health recently drafted a plan to promote grassroots health for the Government by improving funding, said Deputy Minister of Health Pham Le Tuan.
Conference honours revolutionary contributors
A conference was held in Ho Chi Minh City on April 14 to honour those who made significant contributions to the victory of the Ho Chi Minh campaign in the spring of 1975, liberating the south and reunifying the nation (April 30, 1975).
Addressing the event, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam stressed that the Party, State and people are grateful to the heroes who sacrificed their youth and in some cases their lives for the national revolutionary cause.
He affirmed the immortal value of the resistance war for national independence, peace, happiness, territorial integrity and justice of Vietnamese people.
The Deputy PM asked for unanimity and solidarity from generations of Vietnamese to strengthen the country and bring about prosperity.
In recent years, the Party and State have paid special attention to improving the living conditions of families of martyrs and war invalids.
As many as 8.8 million war invalids, relatives of martyrs and Vietnamese heroic mothers, or nearly 10 percent of the nation’s population, are benefiting from the State’s social welfare policy.
Almost all revolutionary contributors and their families have been provided with preferential policies in healthcare, housing, education and vocational training.
Documentary series marks Reunification Day
The Military Cinema Studio produced a new documentary celebrating the nation’s unification in 1975.
Colonel Le Thi directed the documentary, 30/4 – Ngay Thong Nhat (April 30 – Reunification Day). It consists of two episodes, Dan Toc Vietnam Vuot Qua Gian Kho (Vietnamese People Overcome Hardships) and Dat Nuoc Thong Nhat (Reunified Country). Thi based the series on a screenplay by Colonel Pham Minh Loi that analysed global security at the time and offered lessons on battle strategies. Loi also brought in the opinions of politicians, historians and overseas Vietnamese.
“The documentary reflects on the country’s renovation and the fates of people on all sides who witnessed that historic day,” Thi said.
The documentary offers a fresh look on the war – “a clearer vision on history” – said Major General Nguyen Phuong Dien of the General Politics Department.
The studio has already made three documentaries on the topic, but this one offers a fresh look at the end of the war.
“Various issues on the war were approached objectively and from various angles,” he said.
The documentary begins with modern-day shots of Nhieu Loc, Thi Nghe Canal and other landmarks in HCM City. Later on, former Prime Minister Nguyen Cao Ky admits in a present-day interview that, in fact, both sides wanted to reunify the people.
“Our people are a single body,” Vietnam Republic General Nguyen Huu Hanh, a former mayor of Sai Gon, recalled in the documentary.
Scenes on the 1963 murders of Sai Gon leaders Ngo Dinh Diem and Ngo Dinh Nhu end with images of two gravestones, implying that the “republic” died when they did, Thi said.
The documentary also explores issues of today, like Vietnam’s mission to protect its sovereignty, Thi said. Researcher Nguyen Dinh Dau shows in an interview that he owns 2,000 ancient maps, 200 of which say the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes belonged to Vietnam.
Thi also made the documentaries Hanoi Ban Hung Ca (Hanoi-Heroic Song), Duong Truong Son (Truong Son Trail) and Duong Mon Tren Bien Dong (Secret Route on the East Sea).
Hanoi Ban Hung Ca (Hanoi-Heroic Song) examines the 12-day US bomb strike in Hanoi, which won first prize at a socialist military film festival in Vetprem, Hungrary in 1975 and the Golden Lotus Prize at the Vietnam Film Festival in the same year.
Nearly 400,000 poor families, students get preferential loans
The Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) has provided loans worth nearly 8.6 trillion VND (400 million USD) for 400,000 impoverished households and students social programmes in the first quarter.
Of the amount, loans worth 1.9 trillion VND (88.3 million USD) were given to impoverished families, 2.9 trillion VND (134.8 million USD) to nearly-impoverished, 1.5 trillion VND (69.8 million USD) to water sanitation and environmental hygiene programmes, 997 billion VND (46.4 million USD) to businesses in disadvantaged areas and 864 billion VND (40.2 million USD) to students.
To date, VBSP has taken numerous measures to reinforce its credit quality. By March 31, the bank’s capital reached 136 trillion VND (6.3 billion USD) and debit balance stood at 131.5 trillion VND (6.1 billion USD), accounting for 27 percent of the yearly plan.
Instruction 40-CT/TW on enhancing Party leadership over social policy-benefiting credit has fuelled positive change in credit management at the local level and contributed to improvements in credit quality.
Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam (SVB) and Chairman of the VBSP’s Board of Directors Nguyen Van Binh said that to increase debit balance growth to 10 percent, VBSP needs to enact Government instructions and collaborate with relevant ministries and agencies for further recommendations.
He also highlighted the necessity of tracking market movement and issue bonds to ensure capital for debit balance growth, saying the bank should enhance inspection and supervision to detect and tackle shortcomings.
Red Cross Tet campaign supports those in need
The Vietnam Red Cross Society has revealed that a campaign it ran during the 2015 Lunar New Year (Tet) presented disadvantaged people and victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin with 559 free houses and nearly 2 million gifts worth over 30 million USD, and provided 160,000 people with free medical support.
The figures were released at a closing ceremony for the campaign in Hanoi on April 14.
The campaign, named “Tet for the Poor and Agent Orange Victims” has run every year since it was first launched in 1999. To date, it has raised over 3 trillion VND (138.87 million USD), assisting 14 million poor and Agent Orange-affected households.
During Tet, the Red Cross also launched a number of additional programmes to assist the poor, including one which raised 4.7 billion VND for soldiers and locals living on islands, and the cow bank programme that presented 545 cows worth 4.36 billion VND to locals in border areas in eight localities.
During the ceremony, winners of a writing and photo contest themed “Spring of Compassion 2015″ were announced. More than 500 essays and 300 photos were submitted, with the 25 best pieces of writing and the 22 best pictures honoured.
Addressing the Hanoi closing ceremony, President Truong Tan Sang lauded the Vietnam Red Cross Society for its effective humanitarian campaigns. The success also reflects the great consideration society makes for the poor, he said.
He clarified that the Party and State attach much importance to building a society of progress and equality. Poverty reduction, improved social security and care for the poor are long-term tasks, he stated, before calling for even stronger engagement from society.
He also encouraged the administrations at all levels, organisations and overseas Vietnamese groups to join with the Red Cross in charitable activities, thus giving a helping hand to more people.
Free hearing check-ups for Nam Dinh kids
About 765 children in Nghia Hung district of the northern province of Nam Dinh received free hearing screening on April 14 as part of a plan to offer hearing check-ups to around 10,000 youngsters in the province.
The charitable activity, co-organised by the Central Children’s Hospital and the provincial department of Education and Training, is slated to be held from April 14 to May 26 in Nghia Hung and Giao Thuy districts.
According to Nguyen Tuyet Xuong, h ead of the hospital’s ear-nose-throat department, being unable to hear can impede the cognitive development of children.
If their impairment is not promptly detected and treated, they can become permanently deaf, Xuong added.
Vietnam has more than 1 million hearing-impaired people, including over 400,000 children of school age.
Vietnam’s social security under the microscope
The second meeting of a special partnership group on social security and poverty reduction in Vietnam was co-organised by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and the German development cooperation agency GIZ in Hanoi on April 14.
Participants at the meeting shared information about their progress in implementing ASEAN goals on social security, and identified the different roles of relevant agencies.
They agreed that social security must ensure citizens receive an adequate income to pursue basic demands and have access to the fundamental social services. This is an area which requires further cooperation between MoLISA and international partners.
If the partnership group can perform effectively, it will help elevate the efficiency of social security policies in Vietnam and promote MoLISA’s international relations.
Participants at the meeting also discussed their specific plans to promote social security in 2015, particularly through careers training, social insurance initiatives and welfare support for certain vulnerable groups.
The partnership group was founded in 2014 to promote the sharing of expertise, dialogue and experience between separate groups operating in the field.
Early flood warning system in Quang Nam proves effective
Early flash flood warning and monitoring systems using Machine to Machine (M2M) and cloud computing technologies applied in the central province of Quang Nam have proven effective in helping local people proactively respond to natural disasters, as heard at a workshop in the locality on April 14.
The project, carried out from March 2014 by local authorities with assistance from experts from Japan’s Waseda University and KDDI Group, was arranged in mountainous Nam Tra My district which frequently experiences flash floods and landslides in the rainy season.
As many as six sensors and solar energy power servers have been placed in the locality to monitor water levels and river flow volume to provide early flood warnings to local residents.
The system’s application increased the effectiveness of local disaster prevention and search and rescue efforts, thus minimising losses caused by floods, said Dr. Vu Truong Thanh from the Post and Telecommunications Institute of Technology.
Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Le Van Thanh said the project helps to mitigate the impacts of climate change and ensure safety for local people, especially those in areas vulnerable to natural disasters.
HCM City requests quality for metro project
Quality must be given top priority at the ongoing construction of the Urban Railway Line 1 connecting Ben Thanh Market and Suoi Tien Theme Park, Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City’s Party Committee Le Thanh Hai said.
Hai made that remark at a meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on April 14 with Yoichi Miyamoto, Chairman of Shimizu Corporation, which is in charge of constructing the line.
He praised the firm’s efforts in reducing pollution and noises, ensuring workplace safety, and keeping the project on schedule, as seen from their construction works in front of the City’s Opera House.
The works would enable the city to complete the upgrade of Nguyen Hue Street in service of the celebration of the 40 th anniversary of South Liberation and National Reunification, he noted.
He also hoped that the corporation will continue its good works in next projects and pledged to support the Japanese firm to tackle difficulties arising.
On his part, Miyamoto expressed his hope for his firm to carry out projects not only in HCM City but also across Vietnam.
The Metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien) has a total length of nearly 20 kilometres, including 2.6 kilometres going underground and 17 kilometres elevated.
The network, comprising 14 stations, is constructed at a total cost of over 2 billion USD.
Quang Ngai-VSIP provides jobs for locals
The Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) under construction in central Quang Ngai province will provide a great deal of new jobs for local people.
It has already attracted 10 investors with two of which going into operation in the second quarter of this year.
Four factories, mainly in the light industry, operating in 2015, will generate 5,000 new jobs and the number is expected to double in 2017.
According to Edmund Chong, Deputy General Director of the Quang Ngai VSIP, abundant workforce and a cheaper operation cost in comparison with Hanoi, HCM City and their neighbouring provinces, are drawing investors to the locality.
The investors are encouraged to recruit local workers, he said.
The industrial park has made 40 percent of 168 hectares ready for use in phase 1A and began construction work on 105 hectares in phase 1B.
New-style cooperatives make agricultural breakthroughs
New-style cooperatives will greatly benefit both farmers and the State, creating breakthroughs in the development of Vietnam ’s agriculture, said Politburo member and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan on April 14.
At a forum in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang , Nhan said connecting farmers with businesses or cooperatives is imperative in selling their farm produce at supermarkets or shipping it abroad.
Since companies pose a higher risk of manipulation, it is better for farmers to partner with cooperatives to help them secure buyers of product quality and origin and mitigate the recurrent situation of product price plunges in instances of bumper harvests, he said.
Forum participants said new-style cooperatives must be part of a chain including businesses. They urged concrete regulations and strict supervision over the implementation of support policies, especially those relating to credit and land use for cooperatives.
They underlined that the biggest problem facing cooperatives is ensuring the purchase of farm produce, since farmers have yet to gain much profit from selling their products.
Huynh Van Thon, Chairman of the Executive Board of the An Giang Plant Protection Joint Stock Company, said new-style cooperatives only exist on the basis of close coordination between enterprises and cooperative members.
By the end of 2014, An Giang had two cooperative unions and 147 cooperatives with a total chartered capital of more than 412 billion VND (19.6 million USD), Vice Chairman of the An Giang People’s Committee Le Van Nung reported, adding that they had 160,576 members.
About 67.4 percent of the cooperatives operate in the agricultural and fisheries sectors, 16.3 percent in credit, 12.9 percent in transport, and 3.4 percent in small-scale industries. They generated a revenue of 837.2 billion VND (39.86 million USD) and a net profit of 92.5 billion VND (4.4 million USD) in 2014, he added.
Bac Ninh strives for 30 more new-style rural communes
The northern province of Bac Ninh has targeted the addition of 30 communes recognised as new-style rural areas within the year, according to a provincial leader.
Nguyen Nhan Chien, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Bac Ninh People’s Committee, said localities across the province will focus on prioritised criteria of the new-style rural building programme including those in transportation, healthcare, clean water supply and environmental sanitation.
The province will simultaneously speed up its agricultural, economic and rural labourer restructuring while raising local income, he said.
Efforts will be made to develop new rural culture, protect the environment and ensure social order in rural areas, said Chien, adding that communications should be improved to call for stronger local engagement in building new-style rural areas.
The provincial leader also revealed that local districts, towns and cities with three recognised new-style rural area communes will receive rewards of up to 500 million VND (23,150 USD) as an encouragement.
At the end of the first quarter this year, Bac Ninh had 7 communes fulfilling all 19 criteria of the programme, 30 communes completing 18 criteria and 57 others reaching 10-14 criteria.
All local communes have completed the criteria on planning, rural electricity, post offices, housing, education, irrigation, employment and production models.
VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/Dantri
Đăng ký: VietNam News