At a hybrid conference on March 4 reviewing socio-economic performance, Chairman of the Gia Lai Provincial People’s Committee Phạm Anh Tuấn said the growth target should now be treated as a mandatory objective rather than an aspirational one.
“The goal is no longer just something to strive for, but a requirement,” Mr. Phạm Anh Tuấn told officials, calling on departments and local authorities to implement concrete plans and solutions to ensure the province reaches the target.
Reports at the meeting showed uneven performance across sectors in February. In agriculture, the area of rice cultivation, key upland crops and aquatic output declined sharply, although forestry production and livestock remained stable.
Industrial activity also weakened. The province’s industrial production index fell 2.4% year-on-year, while export turnover dropped 17.37% and imports declined 3.2%.
However, the services sector showed strong momentum. Total retail sales of goods and consumer services in February exceeded VND18.316 trillion (about $741 million), up 24.8% compared with the same period last year.
Tourism was a major contributor to growth, boosted by festivals that attracted visitors from across the country. Gia Lai welcomed more than 1.324 million tourists in February, a 15.3% increase year-on-year. Tourism revenue reached VND4.721 trillion (about $191 million), up 17% from a year earlier.
Investment inflows also rose sharply. The province approved 20 new projects in February with total capital exceeding VND12.387 trillion (about $501 million). In the first two months of the year, 51 projects were registered with combined investment capital of more than VND51.369 trillion (about $2.08 billion).
State budget revenue during the January-February period reached over VND8.025 trillion (about $325 million), equal to 28.8% of the annual estimate.
Public investment disbursement as of March 3 totaled more than VND1.155 trillion (about $46.7 million), representing 8.76% of the target assigned by the Prime Minister for 2026.
Officials said social welfare policies continued to receive attention, with stable living conditions reported among ethnic minority communities, while national defense and security remained assured.
At the conference, delegates discussed challenges facing agriculture, industry, tourism and land clearance for major projects, and proposed measures to accelerate economic growth.
Chairman Tuấn instructed departments and local authorities to maximize development opportunities, utilize resources more effectively and shift from administrative management toward a development-oriented approach focused on facilitating business and investment.
He tasked the Department of Finance, together with the Provincial People’s Committee Office, with finalizing a socio-economic development proposal aimed at achieving 10% GRDP growth in 2026.
The province will also organize a 2026 Investment Promotion Conference on March 28 to attract further investment and advance key projects.
Other departments were assigned sector-specific tasks, including reassessing agricultural potential, improving tourism services under the National Tourism Year - Gia Lai 2026 program, advancing provincial planning, and promoting science, technology and digital transformation.
Local authorities were also urged to streamline administrative procedures, accelerate site clearance for projects, and ensure effective organization of elections for the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils for the 2026–2031 term.
Mr. Phạm Anh Tuấn said coordination among departments and localities would be critical to removing bottlenecks and ensuring Gia Lai achieves its socio-economic development targets in the coming years.