The State Audit of Vietnam has proposed to focus on auditing activities in 34 provinces and cities next year, an increase of two compared to the number that were audited in 2010.

They would include key national programmes, economic groups, corporations and facilities in the defence and security sectors.

The National Assembly Finance and Budget Committee agreed with the auditing programme and proposed that activities should also be increased in the offices of companies that manage large State-owned capital and assets.

The committee said the audit office should look at financial reports and State budget balance-sheet to appraise their integrity and also assess the effectiveness of the management and use of capital from the State budget and state assets.

Ministries and sectors using official development assistance should be audited to appraise the effectiveness of their investments, the committee said.

Funds for the restructure and equitisation of State-owned enterprises, use of economic stimulus packages and large economic groups should also be added to the audit programme next year./.