VietNamNet Bridge – Admitting that strikes are taking place seriously, the Party Secretary of HCM City said that the city aims to reducing and then putting an end to this situation from now to the year’s end.

Speaking at the HCM City Party Committee’s meeting on July 12, Party Secretary Le Thanh Hai said that strikes are very serious in the city (HCM City has 1.5 million workers, each 12 workers, 1 involves in strikes). The city needs to harmoniously deal with two issues: taking care of the life of workers and assisting businesses to deal with difficulties.

“We have to take action immediately to reduce to the lowest level and then put an end to this situation,” Mr. Hai said.

He also noted that the city would continue the price stabilization program, focusing on the poor, workers and those in the remote areas.

According to the HCM City People’s Committee’s report, Vietnam’s largest city continues to maintain high growth rate in the first half of the year despite the global economic challenges. The city’s GDP in this period is estimated at VND199.99 trillion (over $9.75 billion), up 9.9 percent, 1.77 times higher than the country’s average. Its budget revenue reached VND301.3 trillion ($14.7 billion), accounting for 32.81 percent of the country’s total and foreign direct investment reached $4.399 billion, accounting for 32.3 percent of the country’s total.

The city has kicked off five projects under the city's housing development programme.

These include a project to build 784 houses for low-income families and accommodations for workers on 6,700sq.m in Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park.

In addition, residential areas for resettlement of Vinh Loc B are being built for the residents affected by infrastructure development projects in District 6, and for residents affected by the National University Campus Development project.

The report said city authorities had successfully implemented the Government's Resolution No. 11 with support from city residents.

Through cutting 10 percent of permanent spending, district authorities and city agencies saved nearly VND200 billion ($9.7 million), while the cutting of purchases of automobiles and facilities saved VND212.3 billion ($10.3 million).

District authorities also had successfully encouraged landlords not to raise room rentals. The campaign helped tenants to save VND518.1 billion per year and thus helped reduce difficulties facing students and low-income workers.

Party Chief Le Thanh Hai said in the second half of the year the city authorities must promote production and business, which would stabilise the country's macro-economy, control inflation, and stimulate economic growth.

He said the city must enhance its programme to re-structure its economy, to raise productivity, quality, and the effectiveness and the competitiveness of the city's economy.

He also asked the city authority to further improve its investment environment and to boost infrastructure development.

According to the city authority's report, in the second half of 2011, the city will enhance its demand-stimulus programme by supporting bank-loan interest payments for projects in an aim to ensure balanced supply and demand in the market.

The city will also continue its price stabilisation programme, avoiding any sudden price hikes of goods covered under the programme.

The meeting also ratified an action plan to implement the resolution adopted by the 11th National Party Congress.

Under the action plan, the city will carry out measures to attain average GDP growth rate of 12 per cent annually between 2011 and 2015, 1.5 times higher than the average national GDP growth rate.

The city aims to attain an annual 13 per cent growth rate for the service sector; an 11 per cent increase in the industrial growth rate, and 5 per cent growth in agricultural production by 2015.

Hai said HCM City had to take the lead in the southern focal economic zone.

Thai Thien