Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung speaks. (Photo: An Dang/VNA)

On the afternoon of May 4, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung chaired a meeting with ministries, branches and Kien Giang province on projects serving the organization of the APEC 2027 Conference in Phu Quoc city.

29 projects serving the Conference

Deputy Head of the Government Office Pham Manh Cuong said that after reviewing the list of proposed investment projects to serve the APEC 2027 Conference and some specific policies, Kien Giang proposed a list of 29 necessary projects to serve the Conference with a total estimated investment of about VND 220,088 billion, of which the central budget capital accounts for 70% - about VND 17,502.2 billion, the local budget is about VND 23,913.8 billion, calling for socialized sources of about VND 156,812 billion.

Of the 29 projects, if classified by capital source, there are 15 projects from the state budget, 2 projects invested in the form of PPP. If classified by urgency and investment selection mechanism, there are 13 urgent public investment projects, 16 projects proposed to select investors in special cases. Regarding the balance of local budget capital, Kien Giang commits to allocate sufficient resources to implement works and projects.

The report of the People's Committee of Kien Giang province shows that, compared to the report at the Government Standing Committee meeting on March 3, 2025, 9 projects/works have been reduced, with a total capital reduction of VND 85,284 billion. Of which, state budget capital projects have reduced by 7 projects/works, with a capital reduction of VND 36,569 billion; calling for investment in 13 projects, reducing 4 projects, with a capital reduction of VND 48,715 billion.

Compared to the report at the meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung on April 21, 2025, there was a decrease of 1 project/construction (29 projects left), the total capital decreased by 264 billion VND (220,088 billion VND). Of which, investment from the state budget (including PPP projects) decreased by 2 projects/construction (16 projects left), the total capital increased by 116 billion VND; calling for investment in 13 projects, with capital of 156,812 billion VND, a decrease of 22,240 billion VND.

At the meeting, representatives of ministries and branches gave their opinions on the list of projects, related mechanisms and policies, and total investment. According to Deputy Minister of Finance Do Thanh Trung, the province needs to review the list, evaluate each project, and take responsibility for its proposals for projects that the province considers really necessary, must be done sooner or later, and directly serve the APEC Conference. Mr. Trung also expressed his concerns about some projects calling for private and social investment and questioned "whether they will definitely serve the Conference or not"; at the same time, he requested to ask for the opinion of the Government Party Committee.

Chairman of the People's Committee of Kien Giang province Nguyen Thanh Nhan later explained that these are investment projects using capital from enterprises, newly implemented by investors on the occasion of the APEC Conference, including mandatory projects such as the Waste and Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the Domestic Water Supply Plant. The projects of the Complex of symbolic office buildings, hotels, casinos, commercial centers, duty-free zones and marinas; the Mixed Urban Area - Bai Dat Do... aim to combine to increase the capacity to serve APEC, contributing to attracting development and creating more momentum for Phu Quoc in the future.

Carefully calculate off-budget investment projects

According to Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung, this is a particularly important foreign affairs task of the Party and State, affirming Vietnam's role and position in the international arena, while affirming the results of 40 years of innovation of our country, creating new momentum and new motivation for Kien Giang. Through the APEC Conference, Kien Giang will be introduced and Phu Quoc will be promoted to develop rapidly and sustainably.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung chaired the meeting. (Photo: An Dang/VNA)

Emphasizing the urgency and necessity of implementing the projects, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that the tasks assigned by the Politburo and the Government Standing Committee are not much time left, about 20 months, all airport projects, conference centers (if built new), connection projects, and infrastructure related to serving APEC must be completed a few months before the Conference for trial operation.

“We must agree that everything that requires a special mechanism must be for Kien Giang. This is a national project located in Kien Giang, not just a project of Kien Giang. We must agree that we must roll up our sleeves and this is a common task and must give Kien Giang a special, specific mechanism so that we can do it quickly, do it well, and do it with quality,” Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung emphasized.

The Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged that Kien Giang province has been very active and proactive in carrying out its tasks recently, and highly appreciated the ministries and branches' active support in implementing the policies of the Politburo and the Government.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, two documents will need to be issued. One is to issue a Government Resolution on asset transfer and investment, upgrading and expansion of Phu Quoc International Airport according to simplified procedures. The Ministry of Finance will coordinate with the Government Office to review and urgently draft the Resolution. The second is to issue a Prime Minister's decision on assigning tasks to prepare conditions and implement a number of measures to quickly deploy projects serving foreign affairs activities and the political tasks of the country hosting the APEC 2027 Conference in Phu Quoc City, Kien Giang Province, regulating six issues.

Specifically, assign the People's Committee of Kien Giang province to preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies in preparing conditions for the successful organization of the APEC 2027 Conference; Adjust the Provincial Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050; Develop a list of urgent projects; Allow the application of emergency mechanisms to quickly implement projects; Approve the application of regulations on granting licenses to exploit minerals for common construction materials according to regulations on granting licenses to exploit Group IV minerals for contractors to construct urgent public investment projects for mineral mines under special mechanisms; Have a support mechanism from the central budget.

Regarding investment projects outside the central budget, the Deputy Prime Minister noted that they must be designed “very carefully.” Although they do not use the central budget, they are inadvertently included in the category of projects that are subject to emergency status, so they must be carefully calculated.

The Deputy Prime Minister also gave his opinion on the specific project list, requesting Kien Giang to review and include any projects that are directly or indirectly related, but absolutely not include any projects that are not related, to avoid relying on this to implement the emergency mechanism, to avoid problems arising later./.

(Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/pho-thu-tuong-nguyen-chi-dung-hop-ve-cac-du-an-phuc-vu-to-chuc-apec-2027-post1036548.vnp