Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc speaks at the meeting (Photo: VNA) On the second day of the meeting, NA deputies deliberated on thesupplementary capital for the mid-term public investment plan from the centralbudget for the 2021-2025 period, as well as several mechanisms and specialpolicies to overcome obstacles and expedite the implementation of nationaltarget programmes.
In the report presented on the allocation of funds correspondingto the increase in the central budget revenue in 2022, Minister of Finance Ho DucPhoc, acting on behalf of the Prime Minister, stated that the Governmentproposed to the National Assembly a plan allowing the use of 63.72 trillion VNDfor the 2021-2025 period.
The total allocated capital was intended for five sectors andfields, including 1.5 trillion VND (61.1 million USD) for national defence, 1.5trillion VND (61.1 million USD) for security, 2.49 trillion VND (101.5 million USD)for State management, 500 billion VND (20.3 million USD) for science andtechnology, and 57.7 trillion VND (2.35 billion USD) for transport, distributedamong 50 tasks and projects.
Specifically, in the defence sector, funds would be allocated tothe Ministry of National Defence for investment in three projects aimed atsafeguarding sovereignty and national jurisdiction, supporting fishermen inexploiting marine resources, and investing in infrastructure for units affectedby the transfer of military land for the construction of Terminal 3 passengerterminal.
In the security and social order sector, funds would be allocatedto the Ministry of Public Security to implement seven essential projects tostrengthen the building of a clean, strong, disciplined, flexible and modernPeople's Public Security force, meeting the requirements and tasks in the newsituation.
In the science and technology sector, funds would be allocated tothe Ministry of Planning and Investment to purchase equipment for the NationalInnovation Centre.
In the State management sector, funds would be allocated to the PartyCentral Committee’s Office for the renovation and repair of work offices andguest houses; and to the Ministry of Finance for investment in two projects,including the construction of the working office of the Tax Department in Ho ChiMinh City’s Thu Duc city, and the project to purchase baggage and containerscanning machines for customs. This would help enhance the effectiveness ofanti-smuggling, anti-trade fraud and illicit goods transportation acrossborders.
In the transportation sector, funds would be allocated for 32projects to invest in the construction and completion of a synchronised, modernand strategic infrastructure system, especially key transportationinfrastructure projects, high-speed roads, coastal roads, inter-regionalconnection projects linking industrial zones, airports, seaports and intra-regionalconnection projects to achieve the goal of completing over 3,000km ofhigh-speed roads by 2025.
Phoc said as of now, 33 out of 50 tasks and projects havecompleted the required investment procedures as per regulations with the totalamounting to more than 33.1 trillion VND (1.34 billion USD).
The remaining 17 projects were in the process of completinginvestment procedures.
Additionally, the Government proposed to the National Assembly theallocation of over 2.5 trillion VND (101.9 million USD) out of the totalcapital of over 37.3 trillion VND (1.52 billion USD) for Vietnam Electricity toimplement the project to supply electricity from the national power grid to ConDao district of Ba Ria – Vung Tau province.
The Prime Minister has been assigned to direct the mid-term publicinvestment plan for Vietnam Electricity for project implementation. TheMinistry of Industry and Trade would be responsible for State management andexecuting assigned tasks.
According to the inspection report presented by Chairman of theNA’s Finance and Budget Committee Le Quang Manh, most opinions of the committeeagreed with the utilisation of 63.72 trillion VND from the mid-term publicinvestment plan from the central budget for tasks and projects of publicinvestment in the 2021-2025 period.
Regarding the funding sources and the amount of funding,detailed explanations, impact assessments and reports seeking the opinions ofcompetent authorities should be provided to submit to the NA for examinationand approval, he said.
Also during the session, Phoc presented a draft resolution onspecial mechanisms and policies to remove obstacles and expedite the progressof implementing national target programmes.
The Government proposed special policy solutions beyond itsauthority to thoroughly address difficulties and obstacles. This aimed tocontinue providing favourable conditions for localities to expedite thedisbursement of funds for national target programmes in the upcoming period.
The draft resolution consisted of six articles.
Notably, there were special mechanisms regarding the allocationand assignment of the annual regular budget of the central budget. TheGovernment proposed that the NA recommend special mechanisms deviating from theprovisions of the State Budget Law to empower local authorities to decide thedetailed allocation of the regular funds from the central budget for theimplementation of national target programmes.
Concerning the budget adjustment mechanism and the adjustment ofannual capital investment plans, the Government suggested that the NA proposemechanisms not stipulated in the State Budget Law and Public Investment Law.Specifically, the People's Councils at the district level would decide toadjust the State budget for 2024 and the State budget not yet disbursed in 2023for national target programmes that have been transferred to 2024. The people'scommittees at provincial levels would decide to adjust the State budget capitalinvestment plan for national target programmes from previous years extended to2024.
Presenting the inspection report on the draft resolution, Chairmanof the NA’s Council for Ethnic Affairs Y Thanh Ha Nie Kdam stated thatconcerning the allocation and assignment of the annual regular fundsfrom the central budget, the council broadly agreed with the Government'sproposal.
The draft resolution is proposed to take effect immediately from January18 if approved by the NA./.
VNA
