Equitable growth’s the goal: MinisterNovember 16,kết quả ulsan 2016 - 10:34Minister of Industry and Trade (MoIT) Trần Tuấn Anh was the first Cabinet member to go before the first 14thNational Assembly hearing session yesterday.
HÀ NỘI – Industry and Trade Minister Trần Tuấn Anh yesterday rejected allegations of “interest groups” influencing the approval and management of mega-projects that have had serious socio-economic and environmental impacts. Answering questions posed by deputies at the National Assembly hearing, he said sustainable and equitable socio-economic development was a shared goal. Anh was the first Cabinet member to go before the first 14th National Assembly hearing session yesterday. He cited as examples five projects delayed for a long time: the Thái Nguyên Iron and Steel Plant, the Phương Nam Paper Pulp Mill, the Ninh Bình Fertiliser Factory, the bio-fuel plant at Dung Quất and the Đình Vũ Fiber Mill. Anh said all five projects had suffered from fluctuations in the world market, particularly the sharp drop in oil and crude oil prices from US$100-147 to $40 per barrel. He emphasised the goal of retaining State capital, assets and interests in dealing with such projects. He also said that all solutions should be in accordance with market principles and international commitments. Fake fertilisersThe issue of fake, poor-quality fertilisers was raised by many deputies during the hearing. Anh admitted overlapping State management of the fertiliser market hindered efforts to restore order. At present, the MoIT oversees the production and trade of inorganic fertilisers, while organic fertilisers come under the management of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). Việt Nam consumes 10-11 million tonnes of fertiliser each year, and 90 per cent of these are chemical fertilisers, according to the minister. This is a major factor affecting the quality of farm produce, not to mention the pollution and soil degradation this causes. “It is the responsibility of the agricultural sector to promote the use of organic fertilisers and gradually shift to clean agricultural production, which is in line with the Party and State’s policy on restructuring agriculture,” he said. Dam violationsMany deputies wanted Minister Anh to report on action taken against violations of rules in water discharge at hydropower plant reservoirs. Questions by Phạm Minh Hiền, a deputy from the central Phú Yên Province about the recent serious environment disaster caused by the Formosa’s waste discharge to the sea areas in the central region, were put forwards to the MoIT minister focusing on why there was not yet a specification and clarification on individuals and organisation’s responsibility for the incident. Hiền also requested an explanation on whether there was a so-called group benefits in many supplementary projects such as the Cà Ná steel production project implemented by the Hoa Sen Corporation in the southern Ninh Thuận Province which local people worry could cause serious environmental pollution in sea areas. Anh reiterated that the country would never accept an environmental trade-off for industrial projects, no matter what the cost. “I affirm again that there has been no so-called group benefit in such projects. We are looking forward to sustainable socio-economic development that ensures adequate provision of materials to all key industries,” said Anh. — VNS
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