Socio-economic recovery and development program slow capital disbursement

On the afternoon of May 23, continuing the program of the 5th Session, authorized by the Prime Minister, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung presented the Report on assigning the list and capital level for tasks and projects under the Socio-Economic Recovery and Development Program; assigning, adjusting and supplementing the medium-term investment plan of central budget capital for the period 2021-2025 and allocating the central budget investment plan in 2023 of the National Target Program.

More than 14,000 billion VND has not been allocated

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said that in Resolution No. 43/2022/QH15 (Resolution 43), the National Assembly decided to increase spending from the state budget by a maximum of VND 176,000 billion, mainly implemented in two years (2022 and 2023) to support and invest in tasks and projects in each sector and field.

Based on the conclusions of the National Assembly Standing Committee, the Prime Minister has assigned the central budget investment plan for the program of about VND 161,848 billion. The remaining unallocated capital is VND 14,152 billion.

According to Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, the central budget capital plan for 2023 has been approved by the National Assembly at VND 338,415 billion, of which VND 137,844 billion is allocated for the tasks and projects of the Program.

“Most of the projects under the Program are newly started projects, and it is difficult to disburse all the allocated capital in 2023. Meanwhile, a number of tasks and projects under the Medium-Term Public Investment Plan for the 2021-2025 period of ministries and localities need additional capital to speed up progress and put them into operation soon. Therefore, flexible coordination between the Medium-Term Public Investment Plan for the 2021-2025 period and the capital plan under the Program is extremely important and urgent,” emphasized Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung.

Minister Nguyen Chi Dung also said that thanks to the drastic participation of the entire political system, the supervision and support of the National Assembly, the drastic direction of the Government, the implementation of the Medium-term Public Investment Plan for the period 2021 - 2025, the Socio-Economic Recovery and Development Program has created new development space, new driving force, new capacity for sectors, fields, and localities, contributing significantly to promoting economic growth, recovery, and development.

Minister Nguyen Chi Dung proposed that the National Assembly assign the Government to direct localities to review and balance state budget capital to recover all remaining unreported advanced capital and recover it according to the provisions of law.

Based on the locality's proposal, the Prime Minister assigns the medium-term public investment plan from the central budget for the period 2021-2025, the Provincial People's Council assigns the medium-term public investment plan from the local budget for the period 2021-2025 to recover the advanced capital of each task and project. The Government reports to the National Assembly the results of the recovery of the advanced capital at the end of the medium-term public investment plan for the period 2021-2025.

Consider allocating resources

Representative of the appraisal agency, Chairman of the National Assembly's Finance and Budget Committee Le Quang Manh said that regarding the allocation of capital for projects that have completed investment procedures, the Committee agreed to review and allocate capital for projects that have completed investment procedures, ensuring the principles as prescribed in Resolution No. 43 of the National Assembly.

However, the disbursement of the Program's capital is very slow. From now until the end of 2023, there are only 6 months left to complete the implementation. Disbursement according to the requirements of Resolution No. 43 is a huge pressure.

The majority of opinions of the Finance and Budget Committee recommended that the Government carefully consider allocating capital sources, and should base on a thorough assessment of the actual disbursement progress of each ministry, branch, and locality to propose capital allocation for eligible projects with disbursement capacity, ensuring feasibility, avoiding the situation of not fully disbursing, not meeting the requirements of Resolution No. 43.

Some other opinions said that disbursing projects under the Program in 2022 and 2023 is not feasible; they proposed reporting to the National Assembly to allow extending the implementation period to 2024 and 2025.

Regarding the allocation and assignment of the medium-term public investment plan using the central budget for the 2021-2025 period, the Finance and Budget Committee agreed with the Government's proposal to submit to the National Assembly the allocation of capital plans for projects that have completed investment procedures, ensuring principles and criteria according to the provisions of the Law on Public Investment and the Resolution of the National Assembly.

In addition, Chairman Le Quang Manh also said that the majority of opinions agreed to submit to the National Assembly a detailed plan for allocating the central budget investment plan for the national target program in 2023. However, there were opinions suggesting reviewing and considering the possibility of disbursing capital for the national target program in 2023; suggesting that the Government learn from experience and allocate capital early to have a basis for implementation, ensuring the possibility of early disbursement.

The Chairman of the Finance and Budget Committee requested the Government to continue to resolutely implement, ensure timely implementation and disbursement of the Program's capital according to the provisions of Resolution No. 43, Law on Public Investment and carefully assess the implementation situation, difficulties and obstacles. In urgent cases, it is necessary to flexibly harmonize the medium-term public investment plan for the period 2021 - 2025 and the capital plan under the Socio-Economic Recovery and Development Program, the Government shall report to the National Assembly Standing Committee and the National Assembly according to the provisions of Resolution 43.

NGUYEN THAO

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