Provincial Party Secretary: Need to change thinking and awareness about ODA Projects

On the morning of March 29, the Supervisory Delegation of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation had a working session with the Provincial People's Committee on the implementation of the use of foreign loans (ODA) in the period 2011-2016.

Attending the meeting were comrades: Nguyen Dac Vinh - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation; Nguyen Xuan Duong - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Nguyen Huu Cau - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Director of the Provincial Police; Hoang Viet Duong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Huynh Thanh Dien - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee...

Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Dac Vinh gave a speech at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Le

In the period 2011-2016, Nghe An province implemented 31 ODA programs and projects and preferential loans from foreign donors with a total investment capital of more than 14,183 billion VND (foreign capital committed 10,855.28 billion VND, domestic counterpart capital 3,327.85 billion VND).

Accumulated to January 31, 2018, ODA foreign capital disbursed was: 5,969.79/10,855.28 billion VND of total committed capital, reaching 54.99%. Up to now, 16 projects have been completed and put into use in the 2011-2016 period and 15 projects have continued to move to the 2016-2020 period and the following years.

Total domestic counterpart capital allocated for projects in the 2011-2016 period is 1,639.97 billion VND.

ODA programs and projects in the area have been deployed and implemented effectively, in accordance with approved project objectives, in strict compliance with regulations on management and use of ODA capital of the Vietnamese Government and requirements of foreign donors.

ODA capital has been implemented quite comprehensively in most localities in the province, in many fields such as: construction of urban infrastructure, roads, irrigation, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, water supply and drainage, wastewater treatment, environmental sanitation, education and training, healthcare, poverty reduction, helping to significantly improve people's lives, especially in difficult mountainous areas.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Duong gave a speech directing all levels and sectors to overcome shortcomings and limitations in the use of ODA loans. Photo: Thanh Le

In addition to the achieved results, the attraction, management and use of ODA capital in the 2011-2016 period encountered a number of difficulties and limitations: Domestic processes and procedures for ODA programs and projects are still quite complicated, implemented through many steps, many levels, many sectors from the central to local levels; many procedures follow the donor's own regulations...

Due to limited local budget, although the province has tried, some projects have not been balanced and have not been able to arrange counterpart funds in a timely manner according to schedule, so project disbursement is slow and prolonged.

The capacity and experience in directing the implementation of some investors and project management boards are still limited, especially the slow site clearance work, so the progress has not met the commitment with the sponsor, and procedures to extend the implementation time must be carried out.

Through supervision, Deputy Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation Nguyen Thanh Hien suggested that the Provincial People's Committee should arrange and supplement counterpart funds for management, maintenance and repair work; direct investors and project management boards to complete the settlement of works and projects.

Along with that, the province needs to continue attracting ODA capital to add resources to the total development investment capital, serving the socio-economic development of the province.

Deputy Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation Nguyen Thanh Hien suggested that the Provincial People's Committee should pay attention to directing and effectively managing the use of works and projects using ODA loans. Photo: Thanh Le

Concluding the meeting, Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Dac Vinh affirmed that ODA projects and programs have made important contributions to socio-economic development, poverty reduction and social security.

The Provincial Party Secretary requested the Provincial People's Committee to direct departments, branches and localities to implement ODA projects to overcome existing problems.

From the province to the grassroots level, it is necessary to change the mindset and awareness of ODA projects; it is necessary to identify this as an important source of capital in promoting socio-economic development for the province, at the same time contributing to the implementation of foreign affairs and relations with other countries and international organizations of the province.

Comrade Nguyen Dac Vinh requested that the Provincial People's Committee develop a specific plan for project implementation as well as a plan to arrange counterpart funds; strengthen management and effective use of ODA loans; conduct inspections and checks to avoid loss and waste.

Thai Hoa wastewater treatment plant was built with loans from the World Bank. Photo by Thanh Le

On behalf of the Provincial People's Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Duong received comments and directed all levels and sectors to overcome shortcomings and limitations in the coming time.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee assigned tasks to current project management boards and investors to continue to direct, inspect and urge the completion of projects being implemented.

The most relevant departments are Planning and Investment and Finance, arranging counterpart funds for projects, overcoming the situation of slow progress.