Outstanding direction and administration of the Government last week

1. Policy to support small and medium enterprises

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The Government has just stipulated many policies to support small and medium enterprises in Decree No. 39/2018/ND-CP.

According to the above Decree, small and medium enterprises enjoy many support policies from the state such as: information support, consulting, human resource development, conversion from business households, creative startups, participation in industry clusters and value chains.

Specifically, small and medium-sized enterprises are exempted from accessing information specified in Clause 1, Article 14 of the Law on Support for Small and Medium Enterprises on the National Portal for Support for Small and Medium Enterprises managed by the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the websites of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities.

The state budget supports at least 50% of the total cost of a training course on business start-up and business administration for small and medium-sized enterprises. Trainees of small and medium-sized enterprises in areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions and small and medium-sized enterprises owned by women are exempted from tuition fees to attend the training course.

Business households registering to convert into enterprises are assigned by the People's Committee of the province or centrally-run city to provide free consultation and guidance, etc.

2. Create clear and substantial changes in implementing the program on sustainable development

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The Government Office has just announced the concluding comments of Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam at the meeting of the National Council on Sustainable Development and Competitiveness Improvement.

In 2018, ministries, branches and localities need to continue to effectively direct the implementation of tasks and solutions according to the issued Resolution No. 19 of the Government, including overcoming the unevenness in implementation among ministries, branches, localities and within each agency and unit; improving the quality of coordination, integrating more synchronously the implementation of the Resolution with related programs such as reforming business conditions, simplifying administrative procedures, and building e-government.

At the same time, strengthen the inspection, supervision and publicization of the results of the implementation of tasks of ministries, branches and localities; strive to comprehensively improve all indicators, with the minimum average index reaching 80, and no index below 100.

3. Mechanical industry development strategy with vision to 2035

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The Prime Minister approved the Strategy for Development of Vietnam's Mechanical Industry to 2025, with a vision to 2035.

Specifically, by 2025, focus on developing a number of sub-sectors of automobile mechanics, tractors, agricultural machinery, construction equipment, industrial equipment and electrical equipment, capable of basically meeting the requirements of the economy and partly exporting; the workforce in the mechanical industry will basically have enough qualifications to meet the needs of modern production.

After 2025, form a number of consulting and manufacturing contractor groups capable of mastering the design and manufacturing of sub-equipment groups and EPC packages of industrial projects; focus on supporting a number of domestic enterprises with the potential to become strong corporations in the region in the manufacturing sector such as automobiles, agricultural machinery and electrical equipment; form a system of industrial enterprises supporting the mechanical industry that meet the standards of direct suppliers for enterprises producing finished products, proactively participating in the global value chain, with small and medium-sized enterprises playing a leading role.

4. Be proactive, creative and determined in implementing national target programs.

Proactive, creative, and determined in implementing national target programs

The whole country implements national target programs with the motto "proactive, determined, creative, drastic and effective".

Ministries, branches and localities strive to have at least 54 districts and 39% of communes meeting the standards or completing the task of building new rural areas in 2018, with an average of at least 0.5 criteria/commune increasing compared to 2017, with less than 60 communes meeting less than 5 criteria, and the poverty rate (according to multidimensional approach standards) decreasing by 1.5%, with poor districts decreasing by 4%.

To achieve the above goals and motto, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue - Head of the Central Steering Committee requested the Government Office to coordinate with relevant ministries to closely monitor the issuance of the list of poor districts and districts escaping poverty, and regulations on public investment.

5. Administrative violations in the field of accounting are fined up to 100 million VND.

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According to Decree 41/2018/ND-CP regulating administrative sanctions for violations in the field of accounting and independent auditing, the maximum fine for an administrative violation in the field of accounting and independent auditing is 50 million VND for individuals and 100 million VND for organizations.

In particular, in the field of accounting, regarding penalties for violations of general provisions on accounting law, a fine of 10 - 20 million VND shall be imposed for one of the following acts: Incorrect application of regulations on writing; numbers in accounting; incorrect application of regulations on currency units in accounting; incorrect application of regulations on accounting periods; incorrect application of the accounting regime to which the unit is subject.

A fine of 20 - 30 million VND shall be imposed on organizations that issue or publish accounting standards, auditing standards, or accounting regimes without proper authority.

6. In March, complete the decree on investor selection.

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Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment to preside over the completion of the draft Decree replacing Decree No. 30/2015/ND-CP on investor selection; submit to the Prime Minister in March 2018.

The Draft Decree replacing Decree No. 30/2015/ND-CP on investor selection has been commented on by Government members; the majority of opinions agree with the proposal of the Ministry of Planning and Investment. However, the Government Decree needs to ensure the principle of not violating the provisions of the law, so some contents need to be studied and edited accordingly such as: investor designation; time for calculating land use fees, land rent, etc.

To ensure the quality of the Decree and remove obstacles in selecting investors to implement PPP projects, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment to preside over and reach agreement with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Justice on the contents with different opinions, complete the draft Decree and submit it to the Prime Minister in March 2018.

7. Prioritize the development of public passenger transport in major cities

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Specifically, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the People's Committees of Hanoi, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Can Tho to direct local specialized agencies to study the 2017 Planning Law to continue implementing the tasks assigned by the Prime Minister in Documents No. 148/TTg-KTN dated January 27, 2014; No. 5197/VPCP-CN dated May 22, 2017 on implementing solutions to reasonably develop transportation modes in major cities.

At the same time, prioritize the development of public passenger transport (buses, tourist cars, taxis) in urban transport organization, in order to create favorable conditions for people to use public transport, gradually reducing personal transport.

Organize reasonable connections between urban railway stations and bus routes; study the option of using electric vehicles to connect residential areas along urban railway routes and rapid buses to facilitate people using the two above-mentioned means of transport.

Continue to improve service quality and passenger service attitude of drivers and bus staff; focus on improving the transit and pick-up and drop-off infrastructure system, applying smart ticketing system, convenient for users; improve vehicle quality, focus on developing buses using clean fuel, friendly to the environment.

8. Supervision and education of people under 18 years of age who commit crimes are exempt from criminal liability.

Educating people under 18 who commit crimes and are exempted from criminal liability must ensure the principle of ensuring respect for human dignity and honor. Illustrative photo - source: VNA

The Government has just issued Decree No. 37/2018/ND-CP dated March 10, 2018 detailing the implementation of measures to supervise and educate people under 18 years of age who commit crimes and are exempt from criminal liability.

According to the Decree, the supervision and education of people under 18 years of age who commit crimes and are exempted from criminal liability must ensure the following principles: 1- Ensuring the goal of rehabilitation for the person being supervised and educated; raising awareness and sense of compliance with the law for the person being supervised and educated; preventing recidivism; 2- Respecting the dignity, honor, rights and legitimate interests of the person being supervised and educated; strictly prohibiting all acts of infringement on the life, health, honor, dignity, rights and legitimate interests of the person being supervised and educated; 3- Ensuring suitability with the conditions, circumstances, age, gender, personal needs and for the best interests of the person being supervised and educated; 4- Respecting and protecting the personal secrets of the person being supervised and educated; 5- Ensuring the participation of families, schools and agencies, organizations and individuals in implementing supervision and education measures.

The supervision and education period is calculated from the date the person being supervised and educated is present at the headquarters of the People's Committee at the commune level to hear the notice on the implementation of supervision and education measures.