Quang Nam proposes to remove difficulties to effectively promote ODA capital

From official development assistance funds, Quang Nam has been implementing many key projects that have initially brought positive results. However, there are still a number of projects facing difficulties that need to be resolved to make the most of this resource.

Quang Nam coastal road using ODA capital has been put into use.

Efficiency from loan capital

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam, Director of the Management Board of Investment and Construction of Traffic Works in Quang Nam Province, said that projects from official development assistance (ODA) such as the project to improve the environment to respond to climate change in Hoi An City; Improving the urban environment in Chu Lai Nui Thanh; and many other projects have been and are being implemented with high efficiency, meeting the development of traffic and the aspirations of people in the project area.

Specifically, one of the projects that is bringing high economic efficiency as well as people's aspirations is the National Highway 40B project passing through Phu Ninh - Tien Phuoc district.

A transport company said that previously the road was narrow and full of potholes, causing many traffic accidents. However, the completion of the new project has created favorable conditions for traffic, especially for people whose projects pass through.

Regarding the effectiveness of ODA capital, Mr. Nguyen Hong Quang, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Nam province, said that he had signed Document No. 9038/UBND-KTHT, dated December 26, 2023, on reporting on the situation of mobilizing, managing and using ODA capital and preferential loans in 2023, sent to the Ministry of Planning and Investment to report on the management and use of official development assistance capital - ODA in this province.

According to Mr. Nguyen Hong Quang, in 2023, Quang Nam province has mobilized continued investment in 2 projects from ODA capital, namely the Hoi An Coastal Erosion Prevention and Sustainable Protection Project, which has been approved by the Prime Minister for re-lending and the policy of negotiating loan agreements and aid agreements using funding from the French Development Agency (AFD) in Decision No. 1502/QD-TTg dated December 1, 2023. The total capital plan for 2023 is allocated by the People's Committee of Quang Nam province to implement 7 projects, with a total capital plan of 1,046,671 million VND.

The Hoi An Coastal Erosion Prevention and Sustainable Protection Project meets the urgent needs of housing stability and economic development of the community in the project area.

In fact, ODA projects on hunger eradication, poverty reduction, road construction, rural power grid development, school and medical station construction, equipment investment; afforestation, forest protection;... have been completed and put into use, contributing to improving people's lives; gradually completing technical infrastructure for socio-economic development, enhancing competitiveness and attracting investment in the province.

Proposal to remove difficulties

Vice Chairman of Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee, Nguyen Hong Quang, said that the projects that have been put into use have shown high efficiency, but some projects that are being implemented are facing many difficulties. For example, the Urban Infrastructure Development Project to Respond to Climate Change in Hoi An City has not yet completed the loan agreement extension procedures, so there is not enough basis to disburse the capital plan, although the completed volume has been accepted.

Or the Central Region Connectivity Project in Quang Nam province, due to problems with compensation and site clearance, the handover of the site was delayed; the weather was unfavorable in the last months of the year, so the volume of implementation was not achieved. The Project on Building Climate-Resilient Infrastructure for Ethnic Minorities (CRIEM), due to problems with some procedures (resettlement reports, environmental impact assessment reports) for the sponsor's approval, the awarding of contracts for some component projects was not on schedule...

Therefore, the People's Committee of Quang Nam province stated: "The People's Committee of the province has reported to the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Ministry of Finance on the repayment of the foreign capital plan allocated from the central budget in 2021 and 2022 of VND 393,300 million.

Therefore, for the foreign capital plan allocated by the central budget in 2021, 2022 and 2023, the capital plan has not been fully disbursed and Quang Nam province has proposed to refund the central budget. It is recommended that the Ministry of Planning and Investment pay attention and continue to advise on the arrangement of capital plans for the following years to ensure that it is equal to the medium-term public investment plan for the period 2021 - 2025".

In addition, the People's Committee of Quang Nam province also requested the Ministry of Planning and Investment to pay attention and consider: giving opinions to the Ministry of Finance to pay attention and consider extending the Loan Agreement of the Urban Infrastructure Development Project to respond to climate change in Hoi An city to implement the capital disbursement plan. There are opinions from the Department of Debt Management and External Finance - Ministry of Finance to propose the Donor to consider and shorten the disbursement time for the next units for the Nui Thanh Urban Area Environmental Sanitation and Drainage System Project. Guidance on the registration procedures and disbursement of the non-refundable aid capital plan for the Project on Building Climate Change Adaptation Infrastructure for Ethnic Minorities (CRIEM); Project on Erosion Prevention and Sustainable Coastal Protection of Hoi An.

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