PM assigns ministry to decide on organisation of national high school graduation exams hinh anh 1 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (centre) speaks at the cabinet meeting in Hanoi on August 3

He asked the chairpersons of People’s Committees in all cities and provinces to ensure the exams are conducted safely. MoET has been tasked with coordinating with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Information and Communications to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the health of students and examination officials.

The PM also directed certain measures be adopted for socio-economic development, pointing out three external risks and challenges: the unpredictable development of COVID-19 and its effect on important foreign partners; trade tensions and escalating technologies between many countries; and geopolitical complexity and natural disasters that affect economic recovery.

Regarding the resurgence of COVID-19, which threatens economic recovery, the PM requested all ministries, sectors, and localities to be more conscientious and not lower their guard. Ministers and chairpersons of People’s Committees are directly responsible for the prevention of the disease.

He also ordered ministries and localities to maintain macro-economic stability and curb inflation.

The PM directed the continuation of extensions, postponements, and exemptions from interest rates for businesses, expanding credit packages and ensuring growth, especially in priority fields.

The financial, planning and investment, banking, industry and trade, and agriculture and rural development sectors must compile specific management scenarios for the third quarter of 2020 and for 2021, he requested.

The Government leader also asked cabinet members to actively support businesses, workers, and people in need of support. The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, in particular, should use its experience to more effectively implement the Government’s aid package of 62 trillion VND (2.65 billion USD).

He also called for increases to the disbursement of public investment and official development assistance (ODA).

The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry and Trade were tasked with improving markets and price management and preventing smuggling and trade fraud.

Reforming administrative procedures and improving the business and investment climate are key tasks, he said, adding that it is necessary to create a more open environment to attract shifting investment flows to Vietnam.

Government seeks ways to complete targets amidst COVID-19 pandemic

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired a one-day regular Cabinet meeting for July on August 3, which focused on seeking measures to fulfil socio-economic goals amidst COVID-19 pandemic.

PM Phuc noted that after 99 days of no COVID-19 community infection, a new outbreak appeared in late July, affecting some localities, especially Da Nang city and Quang Nam and Dak Lak provinces, with several deaths.

He underlined the determination of the Government to once again contain the pandemic, and noted that necessary resources have been mobilised to serve epidemic control efforts in major hotbeds, including the sending of thousands of medical workers from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang.

The Government leader also hailed efforts of medical staff as well as localities in extinguishing the pandemic.

Stressing the policy of not allowing interruption in economic activities, the PM said various measures have been rolled out to remove difficulties, while public investment disbursement has been sped up, resulting in a record rise in disbursed amount in July.

He said that despite the global economic crisis due to COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the strategic competition among world powers, major international organisations and financial institutions still made optimistic assessments about the Vietnamese economy.

The World Bank forecast on July 30 that Vietnam will come fifth in the world in 2020 in economic growth with 2.8 percent, while The Economist magazine called Vietnam as a favourite hub for investors and an important part of the world technology supply chain. These showed the confidence of investors and financial institutions in the Vietnamese economy, according to the PM.

He highlighted stable macro-economic situation and growing agriculture, industry and service sectors, as well as positive signs in foreign direct investment with 14.4 percent growth in July and disbursement of over 10.1 billion USD. Meanwhile, social welfare was ensured, as was social security, order and safety as well as defence and foreign relations.

July also witnessed strong recovery in the number of newly-formed businesses, the PM said, asking Government members to seek ways to maintain the operation of the newly-established businesses, especially in major hubs of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

In the second quarter and the first half of 2020, 30.8 million people were affected by COVID-19 pandemic, including 2.4 million workers who became unemployed. The ratio of unemployment rose 2.73 percent in the whole country and 4.46 percent in urban areas. About 17 million people suffered from income reduction due to the pandemic.

Amidst the effects of the second wave of COVID-19, the PM required the Government to outline policies for the remaining five months of 2020, especially those in social welfare and labourers.

He mentioned the need to ensure a safe and successful organisation of the high-school graduation exam slated for August 8-10./.VNA