Outstanding direction and management of the Government and Prime Minister last week

1. The Prime Minister directed ministries, branches and localities to focus on implementing socio-economic tasks in 2018.

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The Prime Minister requested Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Government agencies, Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities, Chairmen of Boards of Members, General Directors of State-owned corporations and groups to focus on directing the successful implementation of the 2018 socio-economic development plan.

2018 is a pivotal year for implementing the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress and the Resolution of the National Assembly on the 5-year socio-economic development plan 2016-2020. The Government issued Resolution No. 01/NQ-CP dated January 1, 2018 on the main tasks and solutions to implement the Socio-Economic Development Plan and the State Budget Estimate for 2018, setting out the motto of action "Discipline, integrity, action, creativity, efficiency" and requiring ministries, branches and localities to focus on implementing the proposed tasks and solutions resolutely, synchronously and effectively.

2. Prime Minister requests report on fluctuations in gasoline prices

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Specifically, the Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to preside over and coordinate with relevant ministries and branches to review, synthesize and report on recent fluctuations in gasoline prices, the price difference between gasoline products and their causes; tax and fee policies related to gasoline and the operation of the Petroleum Price Stabilization Fund; impacts and influences on production and life; on that basis, recommend and propose appropriate orientations and solutions.

The Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Finance to synthesize and report to the Prime Minister in January 2018.

3. Interest rate for social housing loans 5%

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Accordingly, the preferential lending interest rate of credit institutions designated by the State applied in 2018 for outstanding loans for purchase, lease, hire-purchase of social housing; construction of new or renovation, repair of housing as prescribed in Decree No. 100/2015/ND-CP dated October 20, 2015 of the Government on development and management of social housing is 5%/year.

The Decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces Decision No. 48/QD-TTg dated January 13, 2017 of the Prime Minister.

4. Prevent and eliminate illegal fishing

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The Prime Minister has just approved the National Action Plan to prevent, reduce and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by 2025.

The plan aims to prevent, reduce and eliminate IUU fishing activities by Vietnamese and foreign organizations and individuals in Vietnam's waters; to promote sustainable and responsible fisheries development, contributing to ensuring national and regional security and international integration; and to put an end to the situation of Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen illegally exploiting seafood in other countries' waters.

5. Strengthening the management of weapons and explosives

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To improve the effectiveness and efficiency of State management in the management of weapons, explosives, and flammable materials, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh requested the Ministry of Public Security to direct local police to coordinate with local authorities and military agencies to step up inspection and handling of violations related to the illegal collection, storage, purchase, sale, and use of weapons, explosives, and flammable materials by facilities, scrap collection points, and people. Serious violations must be considered and criminally prosecuted according to the provisions of law.

6. Detailed regulations on trade defense measures

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The Government has just issued Decree No. 10/2018/ND-CP detailing a number of articles of the Law on Foreign Trade Management on trade defense measures.

This Decree details a number of articles of the Law on Foreign Trade Management regarding the basis for conducting, order, procedures, time limit, content, and basis for terminating trade defense investigation; methods for determining damage to domestic manufacturing industries; preventing evasion of trade defense measures; applying and reviewing trade defense measures; responsibility for coordination of relevant agencies during the investigation process; exemption from application of trade defense measures; handling of trade defense measures applied to Vietnamese export goods.

7. Remove obstacles to regular shopping

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Currently, the application of Article 26 of the Bidding Law to regular procurement activities is still confusing and waiting for guidance documents. To remove obstacles in the process of implementing regular procurement, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung hasThe Ministry of Planning and Investment is assigned to preside over the drafting of the Prime Minister's Draft Decision on the list of a number of bidding packages and procurement contents to ensure regular operations to which the form of contractor selection in special cases is applied according to the provisions of Article 26 of the Law on Bidding.

Commenting on this draft, the Deputy Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment to receive comments from the Ministries of Justice, Finance, Culture, Sports and Tourism, and reach an agreement with the Ministries on the case of procurement to maintain regular operations, which is subject to the form of contractor selection in special cases and the contractor selection process, ensuring strictness; and submit to the Prime Minister in January 2018.

8. Implementing craft village development programs

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The Prime Minister has just assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, according to their assigned functions and tasks, to coordinate with localities to strengthen state management of craft villages.

At the same time, coordinate with the Ministry of Information and Communications to promote communication work, pay attention to preserving the national cultural identity of traditional craft villages, have preferential policies, encourage and focus on training artisans.

The Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and relevant agencies and localities to compile a list of craft villages that need long-term preservation, and submit it to the Prime Minister for promulgation in the fourth quarter of 2018.