He said on December 17 at a meeting with the provincial leadership that its economic size remained small; furthermore the poverty rate is high at 17%, about twice the national average.
In addition, the PM noted that the number of enterprises was not commensurate with its population of 1.4 million.
The Government leader asked Gia Lai province to make efforts to double its number of enterprises by 2020.
He noted that the province should focus on reducing the poverty rate, implement a better policy for ethnic affairs, promote forestation, re-organise forestry companies and build more key brands.
PM Phuc suggested that the province enhance its capacity to process coffee and pay attention to attracting large investment with its favourable position as the centre of the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle.
According to a report by provincial leaders, Gia Lai has planted more than 1,550 hectares of forest in 2016, exceeding the target by 55.7% to achieve a forest coverage rate of more than 46%.
Its total economic output for this year is estimated to expand by 7.48% and the gross domestic product per capita at VND38.2 million (US$1,680).
The province also reported to the Government leader that there were no recorded casualties in the recent floods thanks to its effective prevention and coping efforts.
On the same day, PM Phuc visited Op village in the provincial capital city of Pleiku to enquire after the lives of minority residents, most of whom belong to the Jrai ethnic group.
Speaking with the Op villagers, the prime minister expressed joy at the increasingly improved standards of living and affirmed the Party and State’s special attention to ethnic minority groups.
