HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City People’sCouncil has set the target of a gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growthof 8.4 - 8.7 percent in 2017.
The GRDP growth was among 19 key targets of the resolutionthat the council adopted on December 9 at the end of its third session. Theresolution sets out economic, culture and social tasks for the city next year.
Other major objectives include the formation of 50,000 newenterprises and a 1.2 percent reduction in the poverty rate among households, andan employment rate under 4 percent in urban areas.
The city will strive to have 17 doctors per 10,000 residents,bring clean water to 100 percent of local households and raise the ratio oftreated industrial wastewater to 90 percent.
The council requires the city to rise to the top fivelocalities nationwide with highest provincial administration performance index,provincial competitiveness index, and public administration reform index.
Closing the session, Chairwoman of the municipal People’sCouncil Nguyen Thi Quyet Tan said that the city will face many difficulties andchallenges in 2017 as the competitive edge of many products is reducing.
State budget allocation to the city has been cut sharply,while spending need is high, she noted.
Tam proposed that the city People’s Committee designbreakthrough measures to implement the resolution, with focus on creating anopen and transparent environment for investment, thus mobilising resources forsocio-economic development and reducing budget expenditure.
At the same time, the city should promptly build and submitto the Government proposals on pilot mechanisms for the city, while strengtheningdecentralisation by giving more power and tasks to district-level governments.
During the session, participants also adopted a number ofdocuments, including a resolution on decentralising income sources and a publicinvestment plan for 2017.-VNA
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A view of Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA) 
