There have been nearly 40 comments from ministries, localities and organizations on the draft Law on Geology and Minerals.

*Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Quy Kien chaired the meeting.*

Reporting at the meeting, Mr. Mai The Toan - Deputy Director of the Vietnam Minerals Department said: On July 31, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment sent a document to the Government Office and the Government Electronic Information Portal to post and solicit comments on the Draft Law on Geology and Minerals; The document was sent to solicit comments from ministries, branches, localities and relevant organizations. As of the morning of August 24, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment had received nearly 40 comments from relevant ministries, localities and organizations.

Regarding the survey and field research in some localities, the Vietnam Minerals Department has established a Working Group consisting of members from the Vietnam Minerals Department, the Vietnam Geological Survey, and the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment. The Working Group has conducted surveys, worked, and organized consultation meetings on the content of the Law on Geology and Minerals in the provinces of Dak Nong and Lam Dong (in May 2023) and Kien Giang province (in July 2023).

*Mr. Mai The Toan - Deputy Director of Vietnam Minerals Department reported at the meeting.*

In the coming time, the Vietnam Minerals Department will continue to survey and conduct field research in Thanh Hoa province in August 2023; in Quang Ninh province in mid-September 2023; and at the same time organize seminars in 3 regions: North, Central and South.

It is expected that in October 2023, the Department will complete Draft 3 based on comments at the Workshops and the results of consulting with relevant ministries, branches, localities, and organizations; hold the 3rd meeting of the Drafting Committee/Editorial Team; complete the draft based on comments from the Drafting Committee and Editorial Team, and send it to the Ministry of Justice for appraisal.

In November this year, the Vietnam Minerals Department plans to complete Draft 4 according to the appraisal report of the Ministry of Justice, submit it to the Party Committee of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment; complete Draft 5 according to the direction of the Party Committee for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to submit to the Government.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Quy Kien agreed with the progress and plan for drafting the Law on Geology and Minerals as reported by the Vietnam Minerals Department. The Deputy Minister directed the Vietnam Geological Survey and the Vietnam Minerals Department to assign focal points to urge relevant ministries, local sectors and organizations to promptly send comments to the draft Law on Geology and Minerals.

The Deputy Minister also specifically directed the two units on the issue of organizing the workshop (host of the workshop, host agency, invited participants); the development of component reports of the dossier of the Law on Geology and Minerals project; the proposal to develop documents guiding and implementing the Law on Geology and Minerals; the coordination between the Vietnam Minerals Department, the Vietnam Geological Survey with units under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in the process of developing the dossier of the Law on Geology and Minerals project as well as organizing the workshops.

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