PM Chinh demands full public investment disbursement for 2025

PM Chinh demands full public investment disbursement for 2025

All ministries, sectors, and localities have been directed to achieve full disbursement of public investment funds this year, exceeding the previous 95 per cent target, in line with Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chinh's mandate.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairing the conference

At a conference on public investment in Hanoi on May 20, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested authorities at all levels to do what it takes to achieve this goal, disbursing the equivalent of close to VND830 trillion ($33.2 billion).

"The performance of authorities in disbursing public investment will be an important basis for assessing task completion and evaluating officials. If not completed, they must be sanctioned," he said.

As of April 30, the total disbursement nationwide was estimated at VND128.5 trillion ($5 billion), reaching just over 15.5 per cent of the target, a lower percentage than for the same period in last year (16.6 per cent), but more than VND18 trillion ($720 million) in actual monetary value.

"Leaders of authorities at all levels must uphold their responsibility, closely direct and actively organise implementation, and regularly review and remove complexities in projects," the PM said. "It is necessary to build a database to monitor and evaluate public investment, especially data on land, environment, and contractor evaluation."

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Ministry of Construction will provide guidance so the provincial and city committees can focus on removing problems and ensuring the supply of construction materials. Relevant ministries must urgently provide guidance on standards, technical regulations and unit prices, which have to be completed before June 15.

Ministries and agencies must urgently amend, supplement, and issue legal regulations and guidelines on decentralisation in the management and implementation of public projects in localities when changing administrative boundaries and organising two-level local governments, without any interruption.

Chinh emphasised the need for greater efficiency in investment preparation, particularly for the medium-term public investment plan in the upcoming term. The plan, comprising fewer than 3,000 projects, must avoid dispersion and ensure focused execution.

Regarding official development assistance, he asked the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to promptly propose amendments to relevant decrees and laws before submission.

Furthermore, the MoF will amend the Bidding Law, while agencies and localities must enhance oversight to select qualified and reputable contractors.

To accelerate infrastructure development, the PM called for stronger decentralisation of transport projects to localities. Authorities must strictly adhere to directives from higher leadership and promptly report any implementation challenges.

"It is necessary to utilise public-private partnerships in implementing projects. Particularly, the expansion of operational expressways should be assigned to qualified and financially capable firms with sufficient reputation and capacity," said Chinh.

The Ministry of Construction will preside over and coordinate with authorities at all levels to carefully prepare the groundbreaking and inauguration ceremonies of 80 works and projects nationwide to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and Independence Day on September 2. Units, agencies, and individuals who have achieved their targets will be nominated for rewards on this occasion.

The government anticipates completing 3,000km of expressways and 1,000km of coastal roads by the end of this year. Additionally, Phase 1 of Long Thanh International Airport is set to be inaugurated, while construction will commence on the railway line from Lao Cai to Haiphong.

"Projects must ensure smooth progress, remain within budget, uphold safety standards, ensure technical quality, and adhere to environmental regulations, with particular emphasis on eliminating corruption and misconduct," Chinh added.

VIR