According to data from the Son La Provincial Statistics Department, in the first nine months of 2024, the industrial production index (IIP) is estimated to have increased by 27.33% compared to the same period in 2023. This is mainly due to the widespread heavy rainfall in the Northwest region from June onwards, resulting in increased water flow into hydropower reservoirs in the province. Hydropower plants have increased their operating capacity, leading to an estimated 34.88% increase in electricity production compared to the same period in 2023, thus boosting the overall industrial production index.

Industrial production index of some key sectors

Unit of measurement: %

Trade, services, and transportation activities in Son La province in September and the first nine months of 2024 generally maintained a relatively strong growth momentum compared to the same period in 2023. In September 2024, retail sales increased by 18.27% year-on-year; revenue from accommodation, food and beverage, travel and tourism services increased by 7.91%; and revenue from passenger and freight transportation and transport services increased by 10.92%. Overall, in the first nine months of 2024, retail sales increased by 14.19% year-on-year; revenue from accommodation, food and beverage, travel and tourism services increased by 10.30%; and revenue from passenger and freight transportation and transport services increased by 11.25%.

Regarding retail sales of goods, the estimated revenue for the first nine months of 2024 reached VND 26,877.3 billion. Looking at the breakdown by product category: Food and beverages accounted for the highest proportion at 43.83%; petroleum products accounted for 11.97%; wood and construction materials accounted for 10.68%; household goods, tools, and equipment accounted for 9.84%; transportation (excluding automobiles, including parts) accounted for 6.55%; and other sectors accounted for 17.13%.

Compared to the same period in 2023, total retail sales of goods in the first nine months increased by 14.19%, with strong growth in several sectors such as: food and beverages (up 17.70%); revenue from repair services for automobiles, motorcycles, and other motor vehicles (up 16.50%); passenger cars (under 9 seats) (up 15.49%); and other sectors increasing from 10.29% to 14.81%.

Regarding service activities, in September 2024, revenue from service activities in Son La province was estimated at VND 860.6 billion, an increase of 7.91% compared to the same period last year. This included: estimated revenue from accommodation and food services at VND 391.1 billion, an increase of 7.71%; travel services at VND 2.4 billion, an increase of 7.08%; and other services at VND 467.1 billion, an increase of 8.08%. The increase in service activities compared to the same period was due to increased investment in these services; effective promotion and trade and tourism marketing; and improved service quality, leading to better customer experiences and participation in regional tourism development groups. The increase in food service revenue was also attributed to the recognition of the Xip Xi festival as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Revenue from service activities in the first nine months of 2024 is estimated at VND 7,496.1 billion, an increase of 10.30% compared to the same period last year, including: Revenue from accommodation and food services is estimated at VND 3,496.9 billion, an increase of 17.22%; travel services are estimated at VND 21.8 billion, an increase of 19.40%; and other services are estimated at VND 3,977.4 billion, an increase of 4.83%.

In September 2024, total revenue from passenger and freight transport and transport services was estimated at VND 300.1 billion, a decrease of 1.06% compared to the previous month and an increase of 10.92% compared to the same period in 2023. For the first nine months of 2024, transport revenue was estimated at VND 2,725.3 billion, an increase of 11.25% compared to the same period last year.

The quality of life and social security in Son La province continues to be a priority. In the first nine months of 2024, the employment program facilitated career changes and created jobs for 17,947 workers (a 15% increase compared to the same period in 2023), achieving 89.73% of the 2024 plan. This included: successfully connecting 190 workers to work abroad under fixed-term labor contracts, reaching 95% of the plan. In coordination with other agencies, the implementation of loan programs to create jobs in the first nine months of 2024 resulted in 2,199 loan projects, creating jobs for 2,199 workers with a total amount of 145,865 million VND.

100% of social welfare beneficiaries are managed, cared for, and have timely access to social security policies, thereby contributing to alleviating difficulties and improving the lives of vulnerable groups; Districts and cities implemented gift-giving and birthday celebrations for the elderly in 2024, ensuring timeliness and compliance with regulations. The entire province celebrated birthdays and longevity for 6,025 elderly people.

Emergency rice assistance was provided to 3,442 households with 13,174 people, totaling 203,595 kg. Support was also given to 136 families whose houses were destroyed, swept away, burned, or severely damaged; 15 people died and 4 were injured due to natural disasters and floods in the province, with a total expenditure of over 3.1 billion VND. 14,110 new health insurance cards were issued to beneficiaries including poor households, near-poor households, social welfare recipients, the elderly, and ethnic minorities living in areas with difficult socio-economic conditions. Efforts were focused on mobilizing maximum social resources through diverse and effective methods to better care for policy beneficiaries, war veterans, social welfare recipients, and poor households.

Cultural, informational, and sports activities have been strongly promoted. Son La province successfully organized tourism promotion activities and announced the Decision of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recognizing Moc Chau National Tourist Area in 2024 in Moc Chau district. The province also successfully organized the "Son La - Hua Phan Cultural Tourism Festival 2024" in Hua Phan province, Lao People's Democratic Republic. In high-performance sports, Son La province maintained the selection and training of 40 provincial team athletes, 111 youth team athletes, and 47 talented athletes. It participated in 23 regional, national, and international competitions in 11 sports: Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Penkak Silat, Cycling, Tennis, Muay Thai, Kick Boxing, Taekwondo, Weightlifting, and Football. The team won 17 gold medals, 24 silver medals, and 29 bronze medals (including 1 gold medal at the Asian Taekwondo Championships; 4 Master Athletes; 29 Level I Athletes; and 26 athletes summoned for training with the national team).

To implement socio-economic development solutions in all fields with a decisive spirit and the highest effort to achieve the socio-economic development targets for 2024, Son La province needs to focus on quickly addressing the following key issues:

First,We must seize every opportunity and dedicate all resources to boosting economic growth, prioritizing growth while maintaining macroeconomic stability, controlling inflation, and ensuring the major balances of the economy.

Secondly,Promote economic restructuring associated with innovation in the growth model, improve productivity, quality, efficiency, and competitiveness; revitalize traditional growth drivers and strongly promote new growth drivers; resolutely promote innovation, science and technology, digital transformation, green transformation, circular economy, sharing economy, knowledge economy, and new industries and sectors. Focus on thoroughly reviewing and resolving difficulties and obstacles, especially legal ones, of all projects to maximize the release of remaining resources for growth and development…

Third,Focus on accelerating and creating breakthroughs in the disbursement of public investment capital; improving the investment and business environment; and effectively mobilizing all social resources. Respond to the emulation campaign in the final phase to speed up the disbursement of public investment capital, striving to achieve 95% of the plan. Focus on directing land clearance work and accelerating the implementation of key projects in the area.

Fourth,Focus intensely on revenue collection and exploiting potential revenue sources. Improve the efficiency of spending, especially recurrent expenditures, and concentrate spending on tasks that yield effective and practical results.

Fifthly,Continue to improve organizational structure and streamline staffing towards a lean, effective, and efficient system. Reduce and simplify administrative procedures, enhance competitiveness, and cut costs for society; promote the application of information and communication technology (ICT) in all administrative activities of state agencies, especially those providing public administrative services, and build an e-government to serve the people.

Sixth,Strengthening propaganda, promotion, and investment attraction in tourism, linked with diversifying tourism products and improving the quality of tourism services.

Seventh,Effectively implement social security policies, achieve sustainable poverty reduction, ensure social progress and equity, protect the environment sustainably, and care for the material and spiritual well-being of the people, especially those with meritorious service and poor households... Strive to achieve the highest possible poverty reduction targets; effectively carry out social security work to improve the lives of ethnic minorities.

Source: Facts & Figures Magazine