The Prime Minister’s Directive: Focus on Administrative Reform and Accelerated Basic Infrastructure Development

The Prime Minister has directed the Ministry of Planning and Investment to concentrate efforts on administrative reform and mobilize all available resources to accelerate the implementation of national infrastructure construction projects, aiming to address the current issue of capacity exhaustion in infrastructure works.

Leaders of the Ministry of Planning and Investment must steer efforts to ensure a 9% growth rate while keeping inflation under control, ensuring that price increases remain below GDP growth. The objective is to achieve sustainable growth, maintain macroeconomic stability, and ensure the supply-demand balance of the economy, while also improving the living conditions of the people—particularly those in remote areas and regions affected by natural disasters and floods.

In 2008, the focus should be on investing in the improvement of human resource training quality, especially vocational training. A mechanism should be created to align training with business needs, considering this a breakthrough mission to create jobs and enhance the efficiency of the economy.

Officials in the Ministry of Planning and Investment, especially at provincial departments, must fulfill their advisory role to local governments in executing socio-economic development tasks. This includes ensuring the attraction of domestic and foreign investment, efficient use of capital, acceleration of ODA disbursement, and integrating economic development planning with environmental protection.

The sector must also continue to advance administrative procedure reforms; implement the integration of tax codes with business registration numbers; shorten investment licensing and business registration time, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City; and create the most favorable conditions to mobilize all development resources.

Alongside its professional duties, the Ministry must carry out measures to prevent and combat corruption and waste, especially at positions responsible for receiving applications and issuing business licenses. These efforts are essential to protect the reputation of the Ministry and the political system. The Ministry must also support and contribute to national defense and security, maintain traffic safety, and ensure public order and safety.

The Prime Minister also pointed out existing shortcomings that the entire sector needs to address in the near future: the competitiveness and efficiency of the economy remain low and unsustainable; environmental protection has not received adequate attention; and energy consumption during economic development remains high.

(Source: Vietnam News Agency – TTXVN)