The Prime Minister has approved the State Audit of Vietnam (SAV)'s proposals to carry out 20 audits this year, said SAV deputy inspector general Ngo Van Khanh at a press conference on January 10.

Khanh said that Petrolimex, Housing and Urban Development Corp, Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the State Bank of Vietnam and the State Securities Commission were among those included and more will be added at a later date.

The audits will focus on finance, banking, securities, the gold market, import-export, public asset management, land and housing, mineral exploitation and processing, and construction investment.

In the first quarter, the management responsibilities of the State Bank of Vietnam and the State Securities Commission in the gold and securities markets will be looked at for the first time, Khanh said.

State auditors will also inspect several national programmes as well as the business performances of State-owned groups and corporations.

The audits will aim to uncover violations and make recommendations to help relevant bodies streamline current policies and procedures. -VNA