VietNamNet Bridge – The departments, agencies and Government officials that contributed to lower-than-expected budget revenues for HCM City this year must be identified, delegates at a city council meeting have said.

Ministry of Public Security to tackle robbery in HCM City

A customer purchases fruit at the Co.op Mart Nguyen Dinh Chieu in HCM City. The city still faces many challenges due to declining purchasing power and an increasing stockpiled goods.

Delegate Tran Van Khuyen, speaking at the opening session of the seventh meeting of the 8th HCM City People's Council on Tuesday, said the offending parties should be named publicly.

Delegates at the meeting expressed concern that the city's proposed measures for economic recovery in 2013 were insufficient.

"To attain 9.2 per cent economic growth this year, the city made great efforts, but now the city is taking only basic measures to have 9.5-10 per cent growth next year," delegate Van Duc Muoi said.

He pointed out that about 17,000 enterprises this year had suspended operations, based on reports from the taxation bureau.

"Next year, the city authority should focus on helping companies reduce their difficulties," Muoi said.

Hua Ngoc Thuan, deputy chairman of the city's People's Committee, noted at the meeting that the city had encountered even more challenges than last year because of local as well as global economic uncertainty.

Among the problems the city faced this year were declining purchasing power, an increased amount of stockpiled goods, stagnant property and stock markets, and companies' restricted access to bank loans.

However, despite problems, the city's total gross domestic product (GDP) for the year was nearly VND595.375 trillion (US$28.6 billion), up 9.2 per cent compared with 2011.

Authorities enhanced market and price management activities, and as a result the CPI in 2012 did not rise above 5.5 per cent, below the targeted 7 per cent set for the year.

Steps to fight crime

During the meeting, delegate Lam Dinh Chien said that every ward and commune in the city had experienced more robberies and thefts this year. Ward officials have asked the city to pass a special resolution to fight social evils.

Tran Trong Dung, another delegate at the meeting, asked the People's Committee to increase funds for programmes that fight crimes.

Delegate Dinh Duy Phuong proposed that the city authority conduct a study on the increase in crimes to help map out proper plans to fight criminal activities.

This year, the number of thefts had increased, causing a burden on city residents who are already experiencing economic difficulties, said delegate Nguyen Tan Tai.

"Above all, city residents want to be able to live safely," he added.

Delegate Nguyen Thanh Chin said the local administration, including the police force, must develop measures that would reduce the number of thefts.

"All forces should be mobilised to suppress this social evil," he said.

To highlight society's need for a crime-fighting campaign, delegate Vuong Duc Hoang Quan proposed that 2013 be called The Year for Social Safety and Order.

Source: VNS