Deputy PM urges hastening of public investment disbursement

Deputy PM Le Minh Khai (standing) speaks at the teleconference on April 24. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai has emphasised the need to clear all roadblocks and clarify the responsibilities of the persons concerned to accelerate public investment disbursement.

He made the request on April 24 while addressing a teleconference with Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta provinces of Tra Vinh, Vinh Long, Soc Trang, and An Giang, which have recorded slow disbursement.

For 2023, the five localities were assigned more than 92.9 trillion VND (3.9 billion USD) in investment capital from the state budget, including over 67.2 trillion VND from the local and 25.6 trillion VND from the central ones.

As of the end of March, they disbursed over 2.5 trillion VND, equivalent to 2.74% of the target set by the Prime Minister and much lower than the national average of 10.35%. Among them, the disbursement rate stood at more than 5% in the four Mekong Delta provinces and only 0.89% in HCM City, according to the Ministry of Finance.

At the meeting, HCM City, An Giang, and Soc Trang pledged to disburse 100% of their assigned capital, Tra Vinh over 98%, and Vinh Long 100% of the capital from the central budget and 95% of that from the local one.

Deputy PM Le Minh Khai addresses the teleconference. (Photo: VNA)

Noting that the five localities’ disbursement rates are very low, Deputy PM Khai said that as Vietnam’s GDP growth was at only 3.32% in the first quarter, it is necessary to further speed up public investment disbursement to create an impetus for growth and make up for growth slowdowns in other sectors.

He demanded causes of the slow disbursement and the responsibilities of the persons concerned be clarified, asking the chairpersons of the provincial-level People’s Committees to enhance their sense of responsibility, frequently examine and promote the implementation of projects, and tackle hindrances in a timely manner.

He told provincial leaders to take charge of certain groups of projects, especially key ones.

Capital and plans have already been ready, if disbursement fails, it will greatly affect economic growth, Khai pointed out, adding that the localities should view the disbursement of medium-term public investment as a political task for 2023 and use disbursement results as a basis for personnel arrangement./.

VNA