 |
| Secretary Tran Dinh Thanh |
Although facing many difficulties caused by inflation and recession in the economy, the party committee and people of Dong Nai tried their best to carry out economic, social renovation and development tasks. As a result, Dong Nai has successfully fulfilled and exceeded almost all development targets set by the provincial government for 2008. The province attained a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 15.5 percent in 2008, or two times higher than the national average.
Dong Nai has absorbed $3billion in FDI in 2008, double its target, the highest level ever recorded. For the first time during the recent years, the agriculture increased more than 6 percent, that was equivalent to roughly one-tenth of the value of total industrial output of the province. The province’s total retail sales of goods and services in 2008 reached over VND36.500 billion, a year on year increase of over 35 percent meanwhile, the telecommunications service sector continued strong growth with sales up 17.7 percent to VND1,785 billion.
 |
| Maintenance of underground telephone lines |
Great efforts have been made to promote economic growth, consequently, the provincial economy has maintained a continuous and sound development and the people’s living standard has witnessed marked improvement. In 2008, the average income per capita in the province reached $1,316, 1.3 times higher than the national average.
Dong Nai applies poverty standards that double the national level and by the end of 2008, the rate of poor households in the province was 4.14 per cent, three times lower than that of the whole country. In addition, the province created jobs for 85,000 laborers last year, helping to reduce the unemployment rate in urban areas to 2.75 per cent and increase the use rate of working time in rural areas to 87 per cent. The density of telephone use reached about 70 per 100 people and internet density of 14.2 subscribers per 100 people.
 |
| Secretary Tran Dinh Thanh visits the province’s boarding school for ethnic minorities |
In the other hand, various activities have been organised across the province on the occasion of the 310
th anniversary of Bien Hoa- Dong Nai region. The event drew a wide range of local people from all walks of life and it has had significant impacts on local people in Dong Nai province.
 |
|
Encouraging the development of advantageous industries and industries that use local resources |
Dong Nai is already planning its strategy for 2009 with a particular focus on attracting high technology, the development of services sector, agricultural infrastructure and sustainable poverty reduction as well as improving the living standards of farmers and ensuring social welfare. Besides, the province will also give priority to environment-friendly projects, not simply attracting investment capital at any cost.
 |
|
Harvesting rubber latex |
The provincial party committee and its people strive to become an industrial province by 2010.
Reported by Tran Dinh Thanh, Secretary of Dong Nai provincial Party Committee
