Tighter discipline needed for public investment: Deputy PM

Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh highlighted the need to tighten discipline in the disbursement of public investment while chairing a hybrid meeting on the matter with the No.1 Working Group on December 8.

The group consists of eight ministries and central agencies – including the Government Office, Supreme People's Court of Vietnam, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA) – as well as the central provinces of Quang Binh and Quang Tri.

At the function, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Duy Dong said that the total state budget investment assigned to the group by the PM exceeded 19.75 trillion VND (829.66 million USD) this year.

A Ministry of Finance report showed that the ten units’ rate of disbursement was low between January and November. The rate recorded by Quang Binh province was highest, at 54.98%, followed by the Government Office at 52.01%, and the Ministry of Home Affairs with 50.78%. The Committee of Ethnic Affairs disbursed the least, at just 2.41%. 

In his conclusion, Minh said disbursement had progressed gradually; however, compared to the target, the pace remained slow with the rate at some units below 50%.

He requested that the group improve preparations for the projects involved.

The Deputy PM said that for the remainder of the year, the units must ensure payments are made to completed public works to maximise the disbursement rate./.