It was estimated that the province’s economic growth rate increased by 10.3% as against the same period; industrial production developed stably; inland market was expanded; winter-spring rice was carried out as seasonal schedule; epidemic disease in cattle and poultry was prevented; budget revenue increased fairly; cultural and social activities had positive changes.

1. Agriculture, forestry and fishery

a. Agriculture

To late March 2010, the total annual cultivated area was estimated at 53,970 ha, increasing by 0.6% as against the same period, including 27,933 ha of rice, rising by 2.7% as compared with the same period, achieving 101.2% of the plan; 4,218 ha of maize, equaling to 97.6% as against the same period, achieving 93.9% of the plan; 5,779 ha of cassava, equaling to 98.9% as against the same period, achieving 99.95% of the plan, of which 4,097 ha of industrial cassava, increasing by 11.0% as compared with the same period and achieving 97.5% of the plan; 752 ha of sweet potato, equaling to 91.6%; 4,274 ha of vegetable of all kinds, increasing by 0.6%; 738 ha of bean of all kinds, equaling to 84.1% and 5,121 ha of peanut, equaling to 100% as compared with the same period.

The animal husbandry: In the first months of 2010, the animal husbandry is developing rapidly, meeting the rising demand for foodstuff consumption. The units and households continuously invest to expand the scale; some localities apply the policies for capital support to increase the quality and number of the heads; actively take effective measures to prevent epidemic disease for cattle and poultry. Up to April 1st, 2010, total buffalo heads is estimated increasing by 0.72%; cow heads equal to 99.0%; pig heads up to 3.27%; poultry up to 1.46% as against the same period.

b. Forestry: At present, the concerned units and localities continue to speed up the progress of forest care and exploitation of rattan products as scheduled. The Provincial People’s Committee assigns concerned localities to take an initiative in forest protection and management, and forest-fire prevention. Estimated in the first quarter, the output of rattan was 25 tonnes, equaling to 62.5% as against the same period; pine resin was 258 tonnes, equaling to 44.8% as compared with the same period; the number of separated plant was 1.88 million plants, increasing by 0.5% as compared with the same period.

c. Fishery: Estimated in the first quarter, the output of exploited fishery was 6,139.8 tonnes, increasing by 16.5% as against the same period, achieving 19.13% of the plan; the output of cultivated and breeded fishery was 1,179.9 tonnes, increasing by 12.9% as compared with the same period, achieving 13.1% of the plan.

2. Industry

In the first months of 2010, the industrial production was continuing growing in all fields and products. The industrial production value (at 1994 constant prices) in 1st quarter of 2010 was estimated reaching VND714.3 billion, growing by 16.6% as against in the same period last year, achieving 18.86% of the plan. In comparison with the same period, some industries showed an increase in production such as: bottled beer 5.295 million liters, increasing by 7.6%; mineral water 1,793 thousand liters; cement 327 thousand tonnes, rising by 16.37%; clinker 128 thousand tonnes; ready-made clothes 1.023 cloths, increasing by 12.7%. Besides, some industries showed a decrease, such as processed frozen fishery product, only achieving 191 tonnes, reducing by 19.7%...

3. Service

- Domestic trade: In the first quarter of 2010, despite of fluctuation of prices, good market has remained stably, meeting the people’s need for production and consumption. The total retailed sales of consumer goods and services in March 2010, at current prices were at an estimate of reaching VND757.3 billion and in three months reached VND2,297.73 billion, increasing by 27.3% as against in the same period. The economic sectors had a high growth rate, of which individual and private economy made up a high ratio. Individual economy achieved VND1,405.4 billion, making up 61%; private economy achieved VND725.6 billion, making up 32% of the total retailed sales of consumer goods and services.

- Commodity price: Due to the influence of fuel and electricity cost adjustment, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in March was up 0.33% as against last month, up 2.64% as against December of 2009 and up 4.13% as against in the same period.

- Export-Import: As estimated, export turnover achieved 3.58 million USD in March and 16.1 million USD in three months, increased up 82.8% as against the same period. The main exports of local businesses was estimated at: 5.2 thousand tons of rubber, achieved 15.1 million USD, made up 93.8% of export turnover of the first quarter; 400 tons of colophony, equal to 47.1% over the same period, worth 0.5 million USD. In the first quarter, fishery export was only 42 tons, equal to 79.6% over the same period. The main market for export is China, Pakistan and Japan…

Import turnover achieved 1.1 million USD in March and 2.55 million USD in three months, increased 4.8 times over the same period. The main imports were wood of all kinds, aluminium, new medicine and other products…

- Tourism: In the first months of the year, business activity in tourism has continuously developed. The number of tourists to Quang Binh was estimated to achieve 148.102 thousand people, increased up 37.61% over the same period, of which international arrivals was 5.6 thousand people, increased up 48.36% over the same period.

- Transport: As estimated, the passenger transport in the three months of 2010 hit 2,694.9 thousand passengers and 105.6 million hk.km, up 5.5% in transportation and up 34.3% in circulation over the same period; volume of freight traffic achieved 2,152 thousand tons, up 30.4% in transportation and 34.3% in rotation over the same period. The total turnover of transport was estimated to reach 222.5 billion, up 13.3% over the same period.

4. Capital construction investment

Estimated in the first quarter of 2010, total capital for investment and development achieved 206.3billion VND, of which 35.7 billion VND of capital managed by central authority and 173.6billion VND managed by local authority. Typically, transport and storage sector was 39.9 billion VND, reached 16.1% of the plan; agro-forestry and fishery sector was 24.1 billion VND, reached 18% of the plan; education and training sector was 28.2 billion VND, reached 15% of the plan. Rate of capital reimbursement in three months of the year achieved 12.3% of the plan.

In the first quarter, some big projects, such as Thuong My Trung irrigation and Thac Chuoi pond…, have been begun construction; some projects, such as Van Hoa bridge, Provincial Road No.16 and the road connecting Tien Hoa concentrated industrial park with Hon La port…, have been carried out procedures to quickly begin construction. Many big-scaled projects, such as Nhat Le II bridge, expansion of national road No.1A through Dong Hoi city and coastal routes..., are approved by the Government. These projects will contribute to promoting socio-economic development of the province in the next period.

5. Finance, credit

- Finance: Total budget revenue in the province was estimated at VND97.13 billion in March and VND240.132 billion in first three months of the year, reaching 22.1% of local estimate, of which domestic revenues was VND207.402 billion, reaching 20.7% of the estimate, increasing by 14.2% over the same period. Total local budget spending in the first three months of 2010 was estimated at VND619.685 billion, reaching 15.5% of local estimate, of which spending for investment and development was VND182.247 billion, reaching 12.3%, regular spending was VND437.438 billion, reaching 17.4% local estimate.

- Credit: The total capital sources until late March of 2010 was estimated achieving VND6,427 billion, up to 3.4% compared to December 31, 2009, up to 25.2% over the same period; the total outstanding debts until late March of 2010 was estimated achieving VND10,896 billion, up to 2.7% compared to December 31 2009, up to 20.8% compared to the same period; the outstanding debt of loans reached VND1,063.4 billion, accounted for 9.9% of total outstanding debts.

6. Business registration: the certificate of business registration was issued to 27 enterprises in March and to 120 enterprises in three months, of which there were 9 private enterprises, 48 two-member limited companies, 39 one-member limited companies and 6 joint-stock companies with total registered capital of VND209.66 billion. 12 certificates of business registration were revoked, of which 4 enterprises were dissolved, 2 enterprises were reorganized, 1 enterprise was changed the form of activity and 5 enterprises were violated the law.

7. Foreign economy, investment promotion

- Foreign economy: ODA projects in the province have been continuously carried out according to the plan. In the first quarter, 6 projects were issued the certificate of investment with total investment of VND197.405 billion, including 2 projects of building materials, 1 project of convalescent tourism, 1 project of sport and entertainment, 1 project of raising shrimp on the sand and 1 project of ostrich farming.

- Investment promotion: In the first three months of 2010, 6 newly-registered projects were received and solved, of which 4 projects of agro-forestry and fishery fields, 1 project of exploitation and 1 project of tourism. Until now, the total registered projects in the province have been 216 projects with total registered capital of about VND90,895 billion. The province coordinated with the Project on nature conservation and sustainable management of natural resources in central region to successfully organize the seminar titled “Enhancing provincial-level competitive capacity index”.

- Foreign affairs:

+ In-and-out delegations: In the first quarter, there were nine out-delegations with 54 people to Laos, Thailand, South Korea, England, France, America and Australia for visiting, working and studying and the were 22 in-delegations with 222 people from Laos, Thailand, Japan, German, France, the Netherlands, England, Poland, America, Switzerland and Australia for visiting and working.

+ Work of non-governmental aid: Received and granted 3,000 gifts from the Samaritan’s Purse International Relief Organization to Le Thuy district’s children with a total value of VND1.5 billion. Consulate the Provincial People’s Committee to approve the Project “Promoting development of small business production of the disabled people in Quang Binh province” funded by the Irish Embassy with a total capital of USD247.192 thousand.

8. Environmental resources

In the first three months, the outline, technical design and estimated costs for setting up the land using Plan at all levels in 2010-2020 period have been completed to submit to the Provincial People’s Committee for approval. In the first quarter of 2010, 10 projects were introduced new locations; 9 projects were revoked and/or allocated land with a total area of 21.64 ha; 9 projects were leased land with an area of 31.7 ha.

To attach special importance to work of environmental management; to organize assessment of the environmental impact appraisal report for six projects; inspect mineral mines and water resources to issue license for organizations and enterprises. In the first quarter, there were eight licenses for mining and four licenses for water resources activities issued.

9. Education – Training

Improve the quality of teaching and studying at all levels; speed up construction of a system of national-standard schools; continue to launch movement “Building friendly school, active student” for the 2008-2013 period.

Until the mid-year of 2009-2010, the number of teachers having standards was 9,652 teachers, making up 99.4%. Work of professional training and vocational education has been improved both in quantity and quality. The number of students in the school year of 2009-2010 was 23,645 students, of which 16,615 new students.

10. Health activities

Strengthen inspection of the implementation of food hygiene and safety, prevent epidemic diseases, and launch the movement to keep environmental sanitation. Continue to effectively implement the national target programs, including: vaccinations, tuberculosis, malnutrition for children under five years old…

The system of health at grassroots level has been continuously consolidated. At present, there are 159/159 communes and wards having health station, reaching 100%, of which 89/159 health stations meeting national standards, reaching 56%; 136/159 health stations having doctors, reaching 85.5%; 100% hamlets having health staff. In order to strive for meeting the national standards on health, the Provincial People’s Committee extracted VND10 billion to support for the districts and city to build 25 health stations in communes and wards in 2010.

11. Culture – Sport, Information and Communications

- Culture – Sport: organize cultural and art activities to celebrate the 80th establishment anniversary of the Vietnamese Communist Party and Lunar New Year; organize Vietnamese film week on Tet holiday to welcome the Party and the Buffalo Year; research and set up dossier for relics namely Ham Nghi in Tuyen Hoa district; Cao Lao Ha in Bo Trach; Nguyen Huu Dat tomb and Nguyen Huu Hao tomb in Quang Ninh; Hoa Luat military post in Le Thuy; check, take over and put into use of Dong Hoi prison and Quang Phu artillery battlefield.

Strengthen inspection and resettlement of violation in cultural business activities. Continue to build up the cultural life in villages, hamlets and wards.

Organize many sports activities such as national chess, volleyball and table-tennis… to welcome the Party and Lunar New Year; participate in the Central chess tournament and win 14 medals, of which 6 gold medals; successfully organize the 11th provincial Phu Dong Sport Festival, 2010.

- Information and Communications: strengthen propaganda of the policies of the Party and State; honestly reflect all aspects of socio-economic life in the province. Strengthen work of inspection of activities in printing, publishing and television in the province.

12. Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs

Organize vocational training for rural labourer in 2010; submit the Provincial People’s Committee to approve the plan for vocational training for rural labourer till 2020”. Solve the policy regime for war invalids, martyrs and benefactors according to current regulations of the State.

Pay a visit and present 38,904 gifts to disadvantaged families with the total value of VND6.4 billion. Timely allocate 2,000 tonnes of rice in food aid from the Government to stabilize the people’s life in the between-crop period.

Instruct districts and city to carry out the implementation of Directive No.1408/CT-TTg dated September 1st, 2009 of the Prime Minister on strengthening work of protection and care of children; the Plan No.2795/KH-UBND dated December 03rd, 2009 of the Provincial People’s Committee on implementing Directive No.1408/CT-TT; the Plan No.2901/KH-UBND dated December 14th, 2009 of the Provincial People’s Committee on action for Quang Binh’s children influenced by HIV/AIDS till 2010 and the vision till 2020.

13. Inspection, and settling complaints and denunciations:

The provincial inspectors organized the inspection to accelerate the process of inspection according to the approved program and plan. In the quarter, the provincial inspectors conducted 16 administrative inspections in the fields of financial management, construction investment and enterprise privatization; and 24 specialized inspections of culture, health, agriculture and environment…

In the first quarter, the State administrative agencies received 216 people coming to pose complaints and denunciations, up to 92 people as against the same period. The competent agencies and units directly considered and solved complaints and denunciations of the people.

14. National defence – security, social safety and order

- Political security, social safety and order and border security have been maintained. In the first quarter, there were 163 criminal infringements, killing 6 people, injuring 35 people, arresting 192 objects, damaging over VND2.2 billion and revoking over VND156 million.

- Traffic safety: There were 13 traffic accidents occurring, killing 13 people, seriously injuring 7 people. Continue to speed up work of check of traffic violations to ensure traffic safety in the province, especially in Tet holiday.

By N.Y 
(Source: Report No.419/KHDT-TH dated April 06, 2010)