Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phucdiscussed with leaders of the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang about measuresto tackle saltwater intrusion in the region during a teleconference on March25.

Speaking at the event, PM Phuc lauded the provincialauthorities for effectively fighting COVID-19 and saltwater intrusion, addingthat though being one of the provinces hardest hit by salt intrusion, Soc Trangsuffers less damage than others.

He also hailed the province for its high economic growthlast year and being one of the five localities with the highest rice output.

The leader also informed that the upcoming nationalconference will look into dealing with difficulties in production and trade,public capital disbursement, social welfare amid unemployment, and socialsafety and order.

He suggested that Soc Trang should seek necessaryadvantages, especially in agro-forestry-fisheries and services in tandem withimproving business environment.

The PM noted that the province needs to pool all possible resourcesto fight COVID-19 – the top important task, followed by socio-economicdevelopment.

Towards the goal of turning Soc Trang into a prosperousprovince in the Mekong Delta, he suggested focusing on fighting saltwaterintrusion, accelerating public capital disbursement and encouraging innovationand start-ups.

He also called on the province to triple the number of businessesto nearly 8,000 by 2021.

Last year, Soc Trang met and surpassed all 20 socio-economictargets, and its economy grew by 7.3 percent, a record since 2015./.