The Government’s regular monthly meeting is taking place in Hanoi on September 29-30, reviewing the country’s socio-economic development in the first nine months of 2014 and work out measures to meet targets set for the whole year.

With Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in the chair, Cabinet members examine the implementation of a government resolution on major solutions for improving the business climate and enhancing the national competitive capacity.

They look at reports on progress in equitizing State-owned enterprises, easing business difficulties, and assisting social policy beneficiaries.

They also evaluate progress in the national drug detoxification reform and the expanded Methadone treatment programme, as well as the Long Thanh international airport project.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) reported that GDP growth in the nine-month period hit 5.62%, higher than the same period of the two previous years. Industrial and agricultural production continued to increase; the economy maintained a trade surplus thanks to impressive exports; and inflation was still under control.

PM Dung hailed the encouraging results in socio-economic development, saying if efforts are intensified in the last quarter of 2014, the country is likely to meet 13 out of the 15 targets set for the whole year by the National Assembly.

However, the economy is forecast not to fulfil the targets of creating 1.6 million jobs and raising the ratio of trained workers to the workforce to 51%.

The PM called for more specific effective measures to remove barriers to production and business operations, in order to create a healthier business climate for all economic sectors.

He vowed to strictly deal with shortcomings and help businesses iron out their snags.

VOV/VNN