Lawmakers debate five-year public investment plan

Legislators discussed in groups the medium-term public investment plan in the 2021-2025 period as part of the first session of the 15th National Assembly on July 24 morning.

Earlier, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung presented a proposal on the medium-term public investment plan in the 2021-2025 period.

He said it is necessary to make the investment synchronously, focusing on prioritised sectors, areas playing a motivation role in economic development, poor areas and areas affected by natural disasters and pandemics.

Dung said that the ministry will continue to complete mechanisms, policies and legal regulations related to public investment, while reviewing investment projects to eliminate ineffective ones.

Chairman of the NA Budget - Finance Committee Nguyen Phu Cuong said that the public investment in the 2021-2025 period expected to rise 1.43 times compared to that in the 2016-2020 period is a positive sign.

The committee agreed on the allocation of about 104.53 trillion VND for national major projects, he said.

In group discussions, the majority of deputies held that amid complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, the budget and finance allocation has been conducted effectively, contributing to boosting socio-economic development and ensuring defence-security.

However, Lai Xuan Mon, a representative of northern Cao Bang province pointed out that there are still shortcomings in the work. He stressed the need to make investment basing on the real situation in each region, with priority given to infrastructure and transport projects, which will help create sustainable incomes for localities.

Deputy Tran Hoang Ngan from Ho Chi Minh City pointed to the need to focus on improving the efficiency of site clearance for projects by strengthen communications and information supply to reach public consensus, while adjusting the bidding procedures and increasing supervision over the disbursement of public investment.

Agreeing with Ngan, deputy Nguyen Van Huy of Thai Binh province held that the Government should roll out more effective measures to remove obstacles in disbursement, including those from dispensation, resettlement and site clearance.

He stressed the need to deal with the overlapping in land use planning and planning schemes of construction and sectors.