Results for implementation in all fields in the first quarter of 2017 as belows:

I. ECONOMIC GROWTH

1. Agriculture, forestry and fishery

1.1 Agriculture

In the first quarter of 2017, the province cultivated 55,522 ha of winter-spring paddy, increasing 0.2% from the same period last year. Of which, 30,023 ha of rice were planted in the whole province, decreased by 0.2% and reached 101.8% of the plan; 3,997 ha of maize, up 0.4% and reached 99.9% of the plan; 2,918 ha of sweet potato, equivalent to the same period last year; 6,915 ha of cassava, increased by 0.2% and reached 106.4% of the plan; 4,241 ha of peanuts, reduced by 0.2% and reached 98.6% of the plan; 207 ha of seasame, increased by 5.4%; 4,212 ha of vegetables, grew y 1.1%, etc.

As estimated, the production of rubber latex reached 560 tons, grew by 6.7% of the same period last year.

Livestock breeding: Up to April 1st, the herd of buffalo was estimated to reach 37,515, increased by 3.6%; herd of cows 10.3,250, increased by 6.8%; herd of poultry 3.54 million, up 29% of the same period last year.

1.2. Forestry

In the first quarter, the timber production reached 25,700 m3, up 14.2% from the same period last year; firewood production was 49,500 ste, up 13%; the area of cared forest was 4,200 ha, up 5.3%; the number of scattered planted trees was 2,650 , up 3.1% of the same period last year.

1.3. Fishery

Production of fishery products in the first three months was estimated at 10,422 tons, down 2.1% from the same period last year. Of which, production of aquaculture reached 1,447 tons, down 4.0%; production of exploitation reached 8,975 tons, down 1.8% over the same period last year.

2. Industry

In the first quarter of 2017, industrial production index was estimated to increase 3.9% over the same period last year. In industrial sectors, the mining sector increased by 4.3%; the manufacturing and processing rose by 3.9%; power production and distribution grew by 3.3%; water supply and waste and waster water disposal rose by 3.0%.

Industrial production value (at comparative price in 2010) was estimated to reach VND2,454 billion, up 4.8% over the same period last year. Of which, State economy was estimated to reach VND158.9 billion, grew by 5.4%; non-state economy reached VND2,291.5 billion, up 4.7%; foreign-invested economy was estimated to reach VND3.3 billion, went up to 16.3%.

Industrial production index of some main industrial sectors is as follows: the clothing production sector rose by 14.9%; the wood processing and wooden products production up 11.8%; the other mining (building stone) up 4.2%; power production and distribution grew by 3.2%; etc.

3. Capital investment

The number of investment capital from the state budget in the first quarter of 2017 was estimated at VND716 billion, grew by 8.7% from the same period last year. Of which, capital under central management was estimated at VND203 billion; capital under local management reached VND513 billion.

4. Service activities

4.1. Domestic trade:

Total retail sales of consumer goods and services in the first quarter of 2017 were estimated at VND 4,530 billion, up 9.7% over the same period last year. Of which, turnover from State economy was estimated to reach VND201.2 billion, increased by 14.5%; collective economy VND2.6 billion, decreased by 39.3%; individual economy VND2,621.6 billion, rose by 8.4%; private economy VND1,704.8 billion, went up to 11.2% over the same period last year.

4.2. Tourism

In the first quarter of 2017, the number of visitors to Quang Binh was estimated to reach 608 thousand, decreased by 3.1% over the same period last year because of being affected by sea environmental incidents. Turnover from accommodation, catering and travel reached VND441.9 billion, down 4.9% over the same period last year.

The province focused on strengthening tourism promotion activities; diversifying and improving quality of tourism products; upgrading accommodation establishment for the tourism season 2017.

The province also organized two delegations to work with Hai Phong city and Chiang Mai province (Thailand) to discuss on opening new air routes between Dong Hoi (Quang Binh) - Cat Bi (Hai Phong) and Chiang Mai (Thailand) - Dong Hoi (Quang Binh); coordinated with the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism, the Ministry of Information and Communications, the People's Committee of Hanoi city to organize the programme entitled "Quang Binh in the heart of Hanoi", attracting many participations of Hanoian and tourists.

4.3. Transportation

The total number of passenger carriage in the first 3 months reached 5.3 million passengers, up 4.1% over the same period last year and 243 billion passengers-kilometers, up 4.7% over the same period last year. The volume of cargo traffic in the first quarter was estimated to reach 4.9 million tons, up 0.8% over the same period last year and 263.3 billion tons.km, up 3.7%. Turnover from transportation was estimated to reach VND692 billion, rose by 3.7% over the same period last year.

5. Business registration status

In the first quarter of this year, there were 131 newly established registered enterprises with a total registered capital of VND556 billion, of which 100% newly established enterprises registered business via internet, bringing the total number of registered enterprises to more than 4,885 businesses with a total registered capital of VND26,380 billion.

The Provincial People's Committee held a meeting of 300 enterprises to help them solve difficulties, resume production and business development.

6. Foreign economy and investment promtion

6.1. Foreign affairs:

Generally, in the first quarter of 2017, there were 21 out-delegations to Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, South Korea, Japan, Singapore and America with 49 people for seeking and gathering remains of martyrs, signing Memmorandum of Understanding and attending the conferences and 16 in-delegations with 68 foreigners for press activity, visiting, working and meeting in Quang Binh.

6.2. Foreign ecomony:

a. ODA projects: Continue accelerating the progress of project implementation as scheduled plan; focus on appraising and submitting the budget and operational plan of the projects in 2017 for approval; appraising and submitting for approval of economic and techinical economy reports, plans for selection of contractors, bidding dossiers and results of selection of contractors for bidding packages of ODA projects.

b. NGO projects: In the first quarter of 2017, the province received 04 projects with a total investment of VND17.245 billion.

6.3. Investment promotion:

Focus on accelerating the implementation progress of the projects which were issued certificate of investment; signing agreements on investment cooperation.

In the first quarter of 2017, the province approved investment policy for 15 projects with a total investment of more than VND161 billion; revoked certificate of investment and ended operation for four projects.

The all levels and agencies focused speeding up the implementation progress of key projects such as: ecological resort of FLC Group, Vincom Trade Center, Quang Trach I thermoelectric plant, bonded warehouse and oil pipeline to Laos, S&D garment plant for second phase.

The province also held a lot of meetings with the enterprise delegations from many foreign countries to seek investment opportunities in Quang Binh province such as Vietnam - Japan Friendship Association of Nishinomya, Hyogo province, Japn on beef raising project and tourism projects in Quang Binh; the interdisciplinary delegation of Laos on construction of bonded warehouse and oild pipeline system from Hon La to Khammouane province; worked with many potential investors such as Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group, Dohwa - Korea Group, Vietnam Electricity Group and Ministry of Industry and Trade to promote and implement the export garment project, solar power, biomass power and Quang Trach I thermoelectric plant.

7. Finance, Credit

7.1. Finance: Total budget revenues in the first quarter of 2017 was estimated at VND 596 billion, reached 18.3% of local estimate, increased by 3.8% over the same period last year. Of which, domestic revenues was estimated to reach NVD570 billion, reached 18% of local estimate, grew by 4.2% over the same period last year; import-export tax VND26 billion, reached 19% of local estimate, rose by 23.8% from the same period last year.

7.2. Credit: Total capital mobilization from credit organizations until late March was estimated to reach VND37,025 billion, grew by 2% from the beginning of the year and rose by 24.8% from the same period last year.

II. SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Education - Training

In the first quarter of 2017, the education and training secttor has basically completed tasks for first semester and implement tasks for second semester and the academic year of 2016-2017.

Closing the first semester of the 2016-2017 academic year, the province had 159/159 communes, wards and town reaching the standard of secondary education universalization level 1 and over, of which 154/159 communes, wards and town achieving the standard of level 2.

2. Healthcare

In the first quarter of 2017, health establishments examined and treated 279,150 people, of which 26,417 people at provincial route, 117,345 people at district route and 135,388 people at commune route.

The Department of Health in coordination with localities strengthened price management of medicines and health services, ensuring medical examination and treatment according to the State's regulations. The province organized a range of activities to mark the 62nd anniversary of the Vietnamese Doctors' Day (February of 27th, 1955 - 2017).

3. Culture - Sports

Cultural activities in the first three months of the year focused on celebrating the big holidays, major events of the country and organizing activities celebrating the Party, celebrate the New Lunar Year (Year of Chicken) such as 2nd Hoang Phuc pagoda festival with a series of spiritual activities, featuring unique folk cultures of local people.

The province focused on preparing for the art programme entitled "Quang Binh in the heart of Hanoi" which was held in Hanoi on March 26th, 27th.

Sport achievements in the first three months gained impressive results, won 13 different medals with 3 silver medals and 10 bronze medals at the 14th Central Region Open Chess Tournament in Da Nang city.

4. Residential living and social security

In the first quarter of 2017, the province visited and presented 27,961 gifts of the State President to people credited with revolutionary service with a total money of VND5,681 billion; 60 gifts of the province, worth VND78 million, to policy families. The districts, town and city also visited and presented 15,040 gifts, worth VND1,765 billlion to poor households and environmental incident-affected areas. The Provincial People's Committee timely provided 1,669.220 tons of rice to relieve food shortage for people on Tet holiday.

5. Traffic accident

In the first quarter of 2017, there were 72 traffic accidents in the whole province, killing 38 people, injuring 56 people. Compared to the same period last year, the number of traffic accidents in the first three months of this year decreased by 2 cases; the nuumber of deaths decreased by 3 people; the number of injured people increased by 3 people.

By Nhu Y
(Source: Report No.58/BC-UBND dated March 15, 2017)