Stronger measures needed to improve investment environment: PM   PM Nguyen Tan Dung asks for stronger measures to improve investment environment (Illustrative image. Source: VNA) Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked cabinet members to seek stronger measures to further improve business and investment environment, enhance productivity and speed up economic restructuring. He made the request when opening the regular Government meeting on September 29 in Hanoi to discuss socio-economic situation in the first nine months of 2014 and look for ways to promote growth for the rest of the year. Hastening the reform of institutions and administrative procedures as well speeding up restructuring of public investment, State-owned enterprises and commercial banks is also needed to make more obvious changes, he stated. The PM noted that among 15 socio-economic targets set by the National Assembly for this year, 13 are likely to be fulfilled, while the goal of creating jobs for 1.6 million labourers is almost achieved and only one target cannot be met, which is raising the ratio of trained labourers to 51 percent of the workforce. The Ministry of Planning and Investment reported that in the nine-month period, the economy continued showing signs of recovery in all key sectors, with GDP growth reaching 5.62 percent, higher than the same period in the last two consecutive years. Particularly, industrial production, especially processing and manufacturing, recorded a sharp rise year on year, while exports maintained high growth and a trade surplus, said the report. Meanwhile, inflation was controlled, consumer price index stayed stable and social welfares as well as social security and safety continued to be ensured. During the meeting, cabinet members also heard a number of reports on the implementation of Government resolutions on improving business environment and competitiveness, equitising State-owned firms, among others.-VNA