Vietnam infrastructure to meet modern standards by 2020
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on July 9 gave directives for the continuation of Resolution 13 to develop Vietnam's infrastructure to meet the demand of a modern, industrialised country by 2020, which was approved by the Central Committee in January 2012.
Three years after the implementation of the resolution, Vietnam has seen the completion of important infrastructure projects including numerous highways, seaports and airports, which have boosted the country's socio-economic development, enhanced economic connectivity across the country and improved commerce between Vietnam and the international community.
However, the implementation of the resolution had seen a number of shortcomings and limitations such as the country's inability to fund large-scale infrastructure projects and repeated bottlenecks during the site clearance phase. Notable cases were the two urban train projects in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which were both delayed due to slow site clearance.
In light of public concern over these issues, the PM said Government agencies, ministries and localities were to perform a comprehensive review of the country's infrastructure projects to ensure that demand for these projects was genuine and there were sufficient financial resources to fund them.
The Ministry of Planning and Investment will work with ministries and localities to tighten control on the management of infrastructure investment funds and establish legal guideline for investment under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, which will be made available to the public in the last quarter of this year.
Key infrastructure projects that are unlikely to be able to attract funding from the private sector will be given priority to Official Development Assistance (ODA).
The PM ordered the Ministry of Finance to conduct a review on the use of financial sources for infrastructure development projects such as the State budget, ODA, infrastructure assets and land capital to be submitted to the PM before the end of the year.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has been charged with preparing solutions and mechanisms to speed up site clearance in accordance with the 2013 Law on Land.
Local people's committees, Government agencies and ministries were asked to collaborate to ensure that site clearance is no longer a hindrance to the completion of infrastructure projects.
The PM stressed the importance of ensuring labour and traffic safety standards were met, and urged increased supervision and inspections.
Regarding the policy to encourage the private sector to invest in the development of the country's transport infrastructure, he ordered the Ministry of Transport to compile a list of projects that could be transferred to the private sector by the end of this year.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development were asked to submit a proposal to attract other sources of investment for the country's water resource and flood prevention projects for major cities across the country such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho.
Moving on integration
PM Dung has ordered agencies, ministries and localities to step up the country's international integration process.
The PM said there was a need for Vietnam to seize opportunities, overcome challenges, achieve sustainable development and safeguard the country's sovereignty.
He ordered Government agencies, ministries and localities to continue building multi-level co-operation and promote the image of Vietnam as a responsible member of the international community.
He said the Government would continue to support Vietnamese firms find and penetrate new foreign markets and aid them in dealing with the impact of international trade agreements signed by Vietnam.