VietNamNet Bridge – The ongoing global economic turmoil will not prevent HCM City from turning in an impressive economic performance with a per capita income of US$4,513 this year.

A flower shop in HCM City's Go Vap District. Flower trading has helped reduce poverty in the district. The city has turned in an impressive economic performance with soaring per capital income.

The figure was announced by a report tabled on Wednesday, Dec 4, at a meeting of the HCM City Party Committee.

The city attained an average annual GDP growth rate of 9.6 per cent in 2011-13 and will post a 9.3 per cent growth this year, the report said.

The city's service sector will grow 7.5 per cent and the agriculture, forestry and aquaculture sector will see a 5.7 per cent growth.

The service sector continues to make greater contributions to the city's economy with the continuous development of nine groups including: banking- insurance; tourism, postal and telecommunications; transport and logistics; science and technology; and education and health, the report said.

It said in the next two years, the city will focus on restructuring its economy, renovating its production and business sectors, and improving its business environment.

It will also pay due attention to infrastructure development and sustainable urban development, the report said.

The city will prioritise climate change adaption projects, it added.

It noted that six major programmes have been launched to help the city grow at 1.5 times the national growth rate.

City leaders stressed the need to ensure that economic development is combined with social development to make the process more equitable and environmentally friendly.

They said this is necessary for sustainable development and improvement of people's living standards.

The city targets annual per capita income of $4,800 by 2015, the report said.

Source: VNS