(MPI) - On the morning of August 10, 2024, in Ho Chi Minh City, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Head of the Steering Committee for the implementation of Resolution No. 98/2023/QH15 of the National Assembly on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City (Steering Committee 850) and the working delegation worked with the city's leaders on the results of socio-economic development and the implementation of Resolution 98/2023/QH15 of the National Assembly on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for the development of the city. Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung attended the Conference.

Minister Nguyen Chi Dung speaks at the Conference.

Speaking at the Conference, Minister Nguyen Chi Dung said that Resolution 98/2023/QH15 on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City is considered a complete and comprehensive Resolution with 44 mechanisms and policies in 7 different areas. The Resolution is based on 3 main principles: "maximum utilization of resources", "maximum decentralization" and "allowing the implementation of a number of functions and tasks with simplified processes and procedures". This is considered an effective lever for Ho Chi Minh City to take advantage of opportunities for rapid and sustainable development.

After more than 1 year since Resolution No. 98 took effect and 6 months since the 2nd meeting of the Steering Committee, with the close and drastic direction of the Prime Minister, Head of the Steering Committee, together with the urgent and comprehensive participation of the City, and close coordination with ministries and central agencies, the implementation of Resolution No. 98 has achieved many encouraging results.

Ministries and branches have completed 8/18 tasks of the Resolution, notably the issuance of the Decree on piloting decentralization of state management in a number of areas to the Ho Chi Minh City government and the Decision to adjust the master plan for the development of Vietnam's seaport system for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, which has added the planning of Can Gio International Transit Port.

In addition, the ministries and branches have been researching and coordinating the implementation of 10 major projects and tasks: (1) Development of Can Gio international transit port; (2) Project of International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City; (3) Project of developing urban railway system in Ho Chi Minh City; (4) Targeted supplement from central budget to City budget; (5) Investment project to expand Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway; (6) Project to expand Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong expressway; (7) Development of regulations on mechanisms and policies to encourage the development of rooftop solar power; (8) Decentralization of the issuance of Judicial Records; (9) Project to develop carbon market in Vietnam; (10) Comprehensive study for provinces and cities with poverty standards higher than the national poverty standards, including Ho Chi Minh City.

On the Ho Chi Minh City side, to implement Resolution 98, the City has so far passed 35 resolutions of the People's Council, 33 decisions of the City People's Committee and completed 10/25 tasks. The City has allocated 3,794 billion VND for the Poverty Reduction Program and has had tens of thousands of customers borrow capital; allocated 1,500 billion VND of public investment capital to support interest rates for investment projects lent by HFIC in priority areas of socio-economic development; issued 23 lists of projects calling for investment under the public-private partnership method in the culture and sports sector; the City People's Council has stipulated that the maximum additional income expenditure coefficient is 1.5 times compared to the salary scale and position; the policy to support innovation and creative start-up projects has initially shown effectiveness; the Department of Food Safety has been established and decentralised to Thu Duc City.

It can be said that Resolution 98 has been implemented at a rapid pace, including many mechanisms and policies that have taken immediate effect, positively contributing to the socio-economic development results in the first 7 months of 2024 as reported by Ho Chi Minh City. The Ministry of Planning and Investment, as the standing agency of the Steering Committee for the implementation of Resolution 98, highly appreciates the active participation and high determination of ministries, branches and especially Ho Chi Minh City in implementing the specific mechanisms and policies stipulated in Resolution 98, Minister Nguyen Chi Dung emphasized.

Overview of the Conference.

However, Minister Nguyen Chi Dung said that there are still some shortcomings in the implementation of Resolution 98. Firstly, some tasks of ministries and branches are still being coordinated and implemented slowly, and the opinions are unclear and not timely, specifically: Development of Can Gio international transit port: The Ministry of Planning and Investment has submitted Appraisal Report No. 5590/BC-BKHĐT dated July 16, 2024 to the Prime Minister, but there are still some issues that need to be clarified by the ministries such as: assessment of environmental issues; guidance and inspection of land allocation, sea surface allocation, conversion of land use purposes, environmental protection, protection of natural heritage, biodiversity in Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve; guidance for Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee and investors on the process and procedures for converting forest use purposes; development of technology criteria for the Project during the investor selection process; Appraisal of technology-related issues in the process of selecting investors; review and evaluate the ability to invest in the construction of technical infrastructure systems, traffic connections, etc.

Regarding the Project of International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City, the Ministry of Planning and Investment has sent 03 documents to ministries, branches and 02 localities (Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang) on ​​the overall Project as well as requesting the implementation of tasks under the direction of the Government's leaders. The Ministry of Planning and Investment has proactively organized meetings with ministries, branches, localities, and international experts on specific contents of the Project. However, most of the proposed policies exceed the current legal framework, including policies in the fields of currency, banking, capital markets, dispute resolution mechanisms, immigration, tax incentives and revenue allocation... but the specific impact of each policy has not been assessed. In addition, for some specialized contents, there are different opinions between the responsible agencies and localities due to disagreement on: (i) the viewpoint of developing the Project (the current Project of Ho Chi Minh City does not closely follow the orientation of the Steering Committee's overall Project); (ii) orientation in selecting a model for developing the TTTC; (iii) the level of reform in legal policies and mechanisms applied in the TTTC. Therefore, it is recommended that the City People's Committee proactively discuss and work with ministries and branches to develop a roadmap for applying the proposed policies.

Second, some tasks in Resolution 98 are being researched and applied nationwide by ministries and branches, so more time is needed, such as the task of developing regulations on mechanisms and policies to encourage the development of rooftop solar power; the Project on developing the carbon market in Vietnam; the task of comprehensive research for provinces and cities with poverty lines higher than the national poverty line to propose specific plans and solutions.

Third, many projects require large investment capital but the capital source has not been identified for immediate allocation in the 2021-2025 period, such as: Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway Expansion Investment Project (HLD Expressway); Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong Expressway Expansion Project; Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway System Development Project.

Fourth, some policies need to speed up implementation: The city needs to urgently review urban planning, review land funds, adjust planning along both sides of the route and surrounding areas around the station and Metro lines 1, 2, and Ring Road 3 to implement the pilot policy of urban development model according to transport development orientation (TOD); select projects to carry out procedures for arrangement from the source of increasing the total outstanding loan balance not exceeding 120% of the City's budget revenue according to decentralization; Policies on attracting high-quality human resources stipulate income levels for experts, scientists and people with special talents...

Based on the implementation of Resolution No. 98 mentioned above, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Standing Agency of the Steering Committee, would like to propose to the Prime Minister, Head of the Steering Committee: Assign relevant ministries and branches to continue to support and guide Ho Chi Minh City to implement the tasks in Decision No. 896/QD-TTg dated July 27, 2023 of the Prime Minister and Resolution No. 98 on time, ensuring quality, correct order and procedures, and submit to the Prime Minister and the Government for consideration; Assign the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to continue to perfect the strategic investor policy, deploy investment financial mechanisms and institutions (local financial investment funds), deploy carbon credit content, TOD projects, strive to soon submit to the Prime Minister for approval the Project on studying and constructing Can Gio International Transit Port, the Project on developing the urban railway system this year.

Assign the Ministry of Finance, the State Bank, and Ho Chi Minh City to actively coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to complete the International Financial Center Project, including studying outstanding policy mechanisms and accessing successful models in the world to report to the Politburo in November 2024.

It is recommended that the City needs to have drastic solutions in the last 5 months of the year to strive to complete the budget assigned by the Prime Minister to be able to apply the bonus and reinvestment provisions according to the provisions of the State Budget Law and Resolution No. 98/2023/QH15.

The City is requested to review the implementation process of the mechanisms to see if there are any problems that are not suitable for the socio-economic development of the City, clearly define the handling authority, propose recommendations and solutions, and report to the Prime Minister and the Head of the Steering Committee for consideration and direction./.

Thuy Quyen

Ministry of Planning and Investment