Nghe An will submit the Provincial Planning to the Prime Minister for approval in May 2023.

On the morning of April 20, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a national conference on accelerating progress and improving the quality of planning work for the 2021-2030 period.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a national conference on accelerating progress and improving the quality of planning work for the 2021-2030 period. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

PROGRESS OF ESTABLISHING, APPRAISING AND APPROVING PLANNING IS STILL SLOW

Leaders of the Ministry of Planning and Investment reported that in order to speed up planning progress and ensure the quality of planning work, the Government has directed ministries and branches to implement 13 groups of solutions to complete planning regulations and remove difficulties and obstacles. Of these, 5 tasks have been completed and 3 tasks are being implemented.

Up to now, 58/111 national, regional and provincial plans have been appraised. Of these, 18/111 national, regional and provincial plans have been approved; 16 plans are being appraised, 29 plans are in the process of drafting and collecting opinions; 7 plans are selecting planning consultants and 1 plan has not been implemented due to lack of qualifications.

Panoramic view of Nghe An bridgehead. Photo: Pham Bang

Innovation in thinking and awareness of state management of planning, especially the integration of planning and reduction of the number of plans, has increased the effectiveness and unity of state management; strengthened decentralization; removed unnecessary barriers and business conditions; increased investment attraction and ensured the implementation of Vietnam's international commitments.

However, the work of formulating, appraising and approving planning types under the national planning system as prescribed by the Law on Planning is currently behind schedule and has not met practical requirements. The number of remaining plans that ministries, branches and localities must complete in 2023 is very large.

Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong briefly reported on the implementation of planning work. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The reasons are that the planning appraisal and approval process is still complicated and time-consuming; the time for ministries to give opinions and the time for planning agencies to complete the planning is still slow; many localities have difficulties in balancing land resources according to allocated land use targets; the number and quality of consulting units are still limited...

SUBMITTING TO THE PRIME MINISTER FOR APPROVAL OF THE PROVINCIAL PLAN IN MAY 2023

Speaking at the conference, comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee said that up to now, Nghe An has basically completed the Provincial Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050. The Provincial Planning has been appraised by the National Appraisal Council, approved by the Provincial Party Executive Committee and will be submitted to the Provincial People's Council for approval at the meeting in May 2023.

Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee spoke at the conference. Photo: Pham Bang

"To speed up the progress, the province will follow the principle that while waiting for the Provincial People's Council to approve, the province will send all received documents and explain the opinions of the Appraisal Council to the Ministry of Planning and Investment to get opinions from the ministries. After the Provincial People's Council approves, the province will complete the Provincial Planning and submit it to the Prime Minister for approval in May 2023," said Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung.

Discussing the difficulties and obstacles in the implementation process, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee said that the allocated land use quotas were not suitable for the province's needs to be included in the planning. Therefore, Nghe An proposed that the Prime Minister consider adjusting the land use quotas to suit the needs of localities. In case of adjustment, localities should be allowed to have open plans to implement immediately without having to adjust the provincial planning.

Leaders of departments, branches and sectors attended the conference at the Nghe An province bridge. Photo: Pham Bang

After the planning is approved, it is recommended that the Government and the Prime Minister consider adjusting and amending the provisions of Article 55 of the Planning Law in the direction of allowing localities to organize the development, approval of plans and implementation.

URGENTLY OVERCOME LIMITATIONS AND WEAKNESSES TO SPEED UP PLANNING PROGRESS

Concluding the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized once again that the progress of planning implementation is still slow, consulting work still faces many difficulties, funding for planning is limited, quality needs to be improved, and appraisal work needs to be faster.

The Prime Minister also highly appreciated the efforts of provinces, ministries and sectors in planning work in recent times. However, we need to try harder, considering planning as an important political task in 2023.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh concluded the conference. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

In the coming time, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested the Government Office to coordinate with ministries to review and amend Decree 37 as quickly as possible to suit the current situation. Ministries, branches and localities need to learn from experience, promptly overcome limitations and weaknesses, strengthen discipline and order, focus on directing the implementation of planning work, ensuring progress and quality.

Ministries, branches and localities strengthen coordination, share complete, timely and accurate information in developing and organizing the implementation of planning orientations and policies to ensure the synchronization of planning levels in the national planning system.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and delegates press the button to launch the National Planning Information and Database System. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Allocate resources, propose mechanisms and policies to implement planning objectives, ensuring consistency and synchronization with the 10-year socio-economic development strategy and socio-economic development plans of each ministry, sector and locality.

Responsible for managing and settling capital sources according to the law on public investment; regularly organizing training and professional development for officials; innovating the appraisal work of the Appraisal Council; continuing to guide the removal of difficulties related to land. In particular, localities, based on their functions and powers, proactively handle related issues more strongly and positively./.