Kien Giang (VNA) – Kien Giang province in the Mekong Delta recorded economic growth of 8.6 percent in the first nine months compared to the same period last year, the highest growth rate in five years, according to a report published by the Provincial People’s Committee.
During the period, the province’s economic recovery showed signs of broadening.
The provincial index of industrial production (IIP) in the first nine months jumped 25.5% from the same period last year, driven by strong growth in processing and manufacturing industries.
Manufacturing and processing saw 26% year-on-year growth over the period.
In the first nine months of the year, merchandise export turnover reached more than $621 million, up 19.2% year-on-year, and reached 79.6% of full-year target.
During the period, the border trade value at the Ha Tien and Giang Thanh border gates in the province reached more than $146 million, up 74.2% year-on-year.
Nguyen Van Hoang, director of the provincial Ministry of Industry and Trade, said policy measures to support businesses affected by COVID-19 and the provincial socio-economic recovery and development program have helped businesses to restore their production and export activities.
New orders in seafood processing, textiles and footwear surged during the period, Hoang said.
The province plans to step up trade promotion activities as well as boost consumption and expand export markets, he said.
Retail sales of goods and services and export revenue were expected to reach VND26.9 trillion ($1.12 billion) and $159 million, respectively, in the fourth quarter of this year, a- he added.
Le Huu Toan, deputy director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the area growing high-quality rice accounts for more than 95 percent of the nearly 700,000 ha of rice production in the province.
High-quality rice production reached 3.92 million tonnes, 90 percent of the full-year target, Toan said.
The volume of seafood farming amounted to 230,000 tonnes over the period, up 10% year-on-year.
The tourism sector exceeded the target set for this year by almost 10% by welcoming more than 6.1 million visitor arrivals in the first nine months of the year, including 126,000 international visitor arrivals.
Tourism revenue was estimated at VND 7.73 trillion, up 219% year-on-year.
The province hoped to receive more than 7.4 million domestic and international visitors this year.
Lam Minh Thanh, chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said local authorities would accelerate the socio-economic recovery and development program for the rest of the year.
The authorities would focus on implementing policies to help businesses restore and expand production and increase investment attraction as well as speeding up the implementation of projects in the province’s industrial parks. /.
