Delegate Nguyen Huu Cau: Need to handle strictly to avoid loss and waste in public investment

Speaking at the discussion session in the hall this morning, delegate Nguyen Huu Cau - Director of Nghe An Police shared his impression when all 12 socio-economic targets in 2018 were achieved and exceeded.

Recalling the difficulties of Vietnam's economy at the beginning of his term, delegate Cau said he was quite worried that "he did not know whether the Government could overcome those obstacles or not; now standing on the success, he feels admiration for the recent growth rate".

Delegate Nguyen Huu Cau participated in the discussion. Photo: Tuan Anh

However, delegate Cau said that there are still concerns and waste in public investment, such as the trillion-dollar loss projects of the Ministry of Industry and Trade; and now some transport infrastructure projects.

Delegate Cau cited the example of the Da Nang - Quang Ngai Expressway Project, which cost more than VND34,000 billion but was damaged after just a few rains; the Ha Dong - Cat Linh Railway Project, which cost more than VND18,000 billion, was expected to be completed in 2013 but has not been put into operation for more than 6 years.

The Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien urban railway project (HCMC) also increased its capital by more than 47,320 billion VND, an increase of 273%, and has only completed 52% of the work volume. According to the State Audit, the Ministry of Transport has 27/42 projects with adjusted capital increases, equivalent to 97.2 million USD.

With such capital adjustment, the time is prolonged, and waste and loss are possible. Voters demand that the Government strictly handle these violations. Otherwise, the State will assign the Ministry of Transport to build the Long Thanh Airport Project and the North-South Expressway with an investment capital of hundreds of thousands of billions of VND, and large losses will be inevitable.

Delegate Cau also pointed out some other difficulties that exist in the economy, such as the 2018 budget revenue, although it increased by 3% compared to the estimate, it decreased sharply compared to recent years. The two big cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, both had revenue deficits; tax debt was up to more than 83,000 billion VND.

Regarding education and training, delegate Cau said: In 2017, the exam questions were too easy, creating a "rain of 10s", but in 2018, they were too difficult, leading to the discovery of cheating in exams in many provinces and cities.

"These are issues that need fundamental solutions in the coming time," delegate Cau suggested.