Ho Chi Minh City breaks through from Resolution 98

After more than 1 year of implementing Resolution 98 of the National Assembly, many specific mechanisms have come into effect , helping Ho Chi Minh City achieve many important targets, creating a foundation for rapid, strong and sustainable development.

30 MECHANISMS IMPLEMENTED

Resolution 98/2023 of the National Assembly on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City is considered a resolution with careful preparation and synchronous and drastic implementation from the heads of the Government, ministries, branches and Ho Chi Minh City. Up to now, the Prime Minister has issued 4 documents assigning tasks to ministries, branches and Ho Chi Minh City. At the local level, the City Party Committee, the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee, the People's Council and the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City have issued many directives, plans, established steering committees, executive boards, support groups and advisory councils with the highest goal of quickly implementing mechanisms into life, removing bottlenecks and unblocking resources.

After more than 1 year of implementing Resolution 98 of the National Assembly, many specific mechanisms have come into effect, creating a foundation for Ho Chi Minh City to develop quickly, strongly and sustainably.

PHOTO: INDEPENDENCE

Mr. Vo Van Hoan, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, said that out of 44 specific mechanisms, 30 have been applied so far, 2 are waiting for ministries and branches to supplement regulations, 1 mechanism has requested to stop implementation due to new regulations, 4 mechanisms have not been proposed for application, and Ho Chi Minh City is finalizing guidance documents for 7 mechanisms.

Specifically, in the field of investment management, Ho Chi Minh City has allocated public investment capital of VND3,794 billion to support poverty reduction and job creation; approved a list of 7 urban development locations in the direction of public transport; issued a list of 41 investment projects under the public-private partnership model in the fields of health, education, and culture; approved 5 projects to upgrade, expand, and modernize existing roads under the BOT (build-operate-transfer) model. Regarding the group of financial and budgetary mechanisms, the locality has allocated VND1,500 billion in public investment capital to support interest rates for projects lent by the Ho Chi Minh City State Financial Investment Company in priority areas; increased income expenditure of VND11,287 billion; supported Dien Bien province with VND75 billion to implement a number of projects.

Ho Chi Minh City expects a mechanism to unleash land resources by developing urban areas in the direction of public transport (TOD).

PHOTO: NGUYEN ANH

In the field of urban management, natural resources and environment, Ho Chi Minh City approved the investment policy of 1 social housing project providing the market with about 2,000 apartments, 5 units registered to convert waste-to-energy incineration technology, and 2 projects added the goal of waste-to-energy incineration. Regarding science and technology management and innovation, up to now, there have been 48 valid registration dossiers, of which the advisory council selected 21 dossiers and initially supported 15 dossiers. Notably, the implementation of 9/10 mechanisms on the organization of the Ho Chi Minh City government apparatus helps localities to quickly resolve dossiers of people and businesses. Specifically, Ho Chi Minh City established the Department of Food Safety and the Digital Transformation Center, added the position of vice chairman to the People's Committees of Thu Duc City, Can Gio District, Hoc Mon District and 51 wards, communes and towns with a population of over 50,000 people. Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Tuan Hung, Deputy Director in charge of the Southern Institute of Social Sciences, assessed that the addition of cadres and civil servants in densely populated wards and communes has partly resolved the inadequacy of the equalization of payrolls between localities. Regarding additional income expenditure, although the 1.5-times rate will be applied in 2024, it is not natural that all cadres and civil servants will receive the same amount, but only those who have completed excellently and made contributions will receive the maximum amount. This creates competition, urging civil servants to contribute. Strong decentralization helps to shorten administrative procedures, quickly process records, and benefit people and businesses. This expert assessed that with the newly issued Decree 84/2024 of the Government, Ho Chi Minh City will have more advantages in governance, economic development, and proactive use of the budget to implement infrastructure projects.

Foundation for rapid development of Ho Chi Minh City

At the working session with Ho Chi Minh City on August 10, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh assessed that 1 year of implementing Resolution 98/2023 of the National Assembly has brought about very basic and positive initial results, creating the premise and foundation for the rapid, strong and sustainable development of Ho Chi Minh City. "Thinking is mature, ideas are clear, mechanisms are in place, and the flag is in hand, so we must have higher determination, greater efforts, more drastic actions, and work with focus and key points. We must further promote the idea of ​​attacking, encouraging and protecting those who dare to think, dare to do, dare to innovate, dare to break through for the common good," Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh added.

Ho Chi Minh City's economy continues to recover strongly after the Covid-19 pandemic thanks to support from Resolution 98/2023 of the National Assembly

PHOTO: NGOC DUONG

Once thoughts are mature, ideas are clear, mechanisms are in place, and the flag is in hand, we must have greater determination, greater effort, more drastic actions, and work with focus and key points.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (at the working session with Ho Chi Minh City on August 10)

Sharing the same view, Politburo member and Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen commented that 30/44 mechanisms have been implemented to help remove difficulties and obstacles encountered before, while clearing many bottlenecks, preparing for medium-term and long-term plans. Economic indicators such as gross regional domestic product growth (GRDP), budget revenue, industrial production, retail sales of goods, services, and social security in the first months of 2024 were achieved with the support of special mechanisms. "The results achieved in the past year are very valuable, especially in the context of no increase in the number of staff," Secretary Nguyen Van Nen assessed. The additional income payment mechanism alone helps cadres and civil servants feel more cared for, more focused, more secure, and more dynamic and creative, contributing to improving productivity, quality, and efficiency. Not only the political system of Ho Chi Minh City but also many central agencies located in the area benefit from this policy. Recalling the time of implementing Resolution 98, the head of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee shared the common feeling at that time like implementing a campaign, seeing the spirit of drastic action of the Government and Ho Chi Minh City, creating a very strong and synchronous atmosphere in the entire system of management and law enforcement. It cannot be denied that the tasks that have been implemented are very large, but according to Secretary Nguyen Van Nen, even though it is a special resolution, it still needs time because the city is big, there are things that can be seen immediately, there are things that need time. Reality shows that many things are still confusing in implementation, stuck in coordination, showing perfectionism, hesitation, fear of risk, and many stages are overloaded.

Perfecting investment attraction policy

"Resolution 98 is expected to open up a mechanism to mobilize resources and remove mechanisms for Ho Chi Minh City to be more decentralized, delegated, and proactive, but both of these have not been achieved as expected," said Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai. Legally, the outstanding mechanisms and policies are piloted but still have to follow current processes and procedures. Not to mention, the processes and procedures are issued by ministries and branches, not yet decentralized to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee. For example, the issuance of the list of projects and mechanisms and policies to attract strategic investors, although decentralized to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council for approval, before approval, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee still has to report and negotiate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment. According to Mr. Mai, it is necessary to remove obstacles to the strategic investor mechanism to be able to call for investment in the Can Gio international transit port project and the High-Tech Park.

Thu Duc City Public Administration Center was established under a special mechanism from Resolution 98/2023 of the National Assembly.

PHOTO: SY DONG

Another mechanism expected to unleash land resources is public transport-oriented urban development (TOD), but so far it has only stopped at identifying 7 suitable locations along metro line 1 (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien), metro line 2 (Ben Thanh - Tham Luong) and Ring Road 3. Dr. Truong Minh Huy Vu, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies, explained that even if there is a mechanism, if it is not suitable for the planning, it still cannot be implemented. Ho Chi Minh City is completing 2 planning projects including adjusting the general planning and the socio-economic planning to submit to competent authorities for approval. Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai said that the urban development mechanism according to the TOD model is estimated to bring in about 100,000 billion VND to the budget, restructuring urban space. In the near future, Ho Chi Minh City will adjust the detailed planning in 6 locations for implementation, with priority given to Thu Duc City. For 41 public-private partnership projects in the fields of health, education, culture and 5 road expansion projects under the BOT form, Ho Chi Minh City will organize an investment promotion conference in the third and fourth quarters of 2024 and start construction in 2025. Regarding the remaining issues, Secretary Nguyen Van Nen suggested that the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee proactively discuss and propose the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee to consider and implement them in the spirit of innovation for the common good, and only send documents to the Central agencies for opinions on matters beyond its authority.

General Secretary and President To Lam: Ho Chi Minh City is not only rich in economy but also rich in history and culture.

Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City has always been closely linked to the history and destiny of the country. For nearly 40 years, since the beginning of the renovation process, Ho Chi Minh City has always been a locality that has contributed greatly to the country in terms of gross domestic product (GDP), budget revenue, labor productivity, new mechanisms, policies, and new business models. Many creative, innovative ideas, new technologies, and new ways of doing things are often implemented in Ho Chi Minh City and then replicated nationwide.

General Secretary and President To Lam speaks at a working session with the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee on August 17.

PHOTO: HOANG HUNG

In the coming time, Ho Chi Minh City needs to shape its future as a global city, developing smartly, modernly, dynamically, and integrating; making the best use of its potential and advantages, and developing its economy rapidly and sustainably. Ho Chi Minh City needs to turn the political determination of the entire Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee on building a "Civilized, modern, humane, dynamic, and creative city" as set out in Resolution No. 31 of the Politburo on the development of Ho Chi Minh City into practical actions and achievements, so that Ho Chi Minh City can truly be a civilized city, with people living a prosperous and happy life. Ho Chi Minh City needs to continue to invest in innovation, comprehensively improve the quality of education and training, develop human resources, especially high-quality human resources; strongly develop science and technology associated with the development of a knowledge-based economy, digital technology, and digital society. At the same time, consolidate and perfect the medical network from the city to the grassroots level, improve the quality of district hospitals, develop preventive medicine, and fundamentally solve the problem of hospital overload. Ho Chi Minh City's target of 21 doctors/10,000 people is very good, but it is necessary to aim for the target of each person having a health check-up at a medical facility once a year. In addition, Ho Chi Minh City needs to pay attention to developing, improving and managing cultural activities in a civilized manner; preserving and promoting the national cultural identity and spiritual values ​​with unique characteristics. Recently, Ho Chi Minh City held a very good river festival, which is a unique feature of the city. Ho Chi Minh City develops so that every citizen of the city has the right to be proud and has the responsibility to contribute to building Ho Chi Minh City into a rich city. Richness is not only about money and material things, but also rich in history, culture, humanity, opportunities, and aspirations to rise up. (Excerpt from the speech of General Secretary and President To Lam at the visit and working session with the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee on August 17)

Thu Duc authorizes 187 contents to departments and wards

Up to now, 4 mechanisms on the organization of the administrative apparatus of Thu Duc City have been implemented relatively comprehensively. Regarding the establishment of the organizational apparatus, the People's Committee of Thu Duc City has established the Construction Inspectorate, the Public Administration Center, and 3 public service units (the Center for Trade and Investment Promotion, the Center for Social Security, and the Center for Technical Infrastructure Development). Through the preliminary review, the centers all operate effectively, adapting to the population of more than 1 million people.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Hiep, Secretary of Thu Duc City Party Committee

PHOTO: SY DONG

Regarding decentralization and authorization, Thu Duc City People's Committee has issued 28 decisions to authorize 187 contents to specialized departments and 34 wards. For example, previously, house numbering was under the authority of the district level, now it is assigned to the wards. Some wards have even proposed to be allowed to grant house numbers to organizations, instead of just households as at present. Regarding receiving investment projects, Thu Duc City has been supported and guided by the Department of Planning and Investment for the first 3 months, and has so far smoothly organized and promoted investment calls for 6 projects with a total capital of nearly 3,000 billion VND. In addition, the Department of Science and Technology also agreed on a plan to spend 36 billion VND on 17 scientific research tasks. From practice, the locality recommends that pilot models should be kept intact, not because a new model affects the pilot model. As in the near future, Ho Chi Minh City is studying to establish a Public Administration Service Center, the Thu Duc City Public Administration Center will remain the same to serve common needs, and should not be merged into a vertical unit. Mr. Nguyen Huu Hiep , Secretary of the Thu Duc City Party Committee

Thanhnien.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tphcm-but-pha-tu-nghi-quyet-98-185240902233040687.htm