The military will equitize and divest from a series of enterprises.

The generals said that the army will not do business purely but will develop the national defense economy in conjunction with science and technology.

On the morning of November 24, discussing in the hall about the draft Law on National Defense (amended), Major General Nguyen Minh Hoang - Deputy Political Commissar of Military Region 7, expressed his opinion in support of themilitary regulations combined with economic, cultural and social activities.

"TIn the coming time, according to the project approved by the Government, the army will restructure enterprises," said Mr. Hoang.

Major General Nguyen Minh Hoang said that the military doing business is shouldering socio-political tasks. Photo: QH

Speaking afterwards, General - Minister of National Defense Ngo Xuan Lich affirmed that the military's participation in economic activities is always an important function and should be regulated in the draft Law on National Defense (amended).

According to the General, over the past 70 years, the army has participated in economic development in many regions where civilian businesses have hardly invested, because of low profits.

Mentioning the names of military enterprises such as the Military Telecommunications Group (Viettel), Vietnam Helicopter Corporation..., Mr. Lich emphasized that those units are constantly innovating, integrating, building leading brands, creating high-value products, and making great contributions to the State budget.

Implementing the project to restructure military enterprises, the Ministry of National Defense will only retain 100% state capital in 17 out of 88 existing enterprises.

“The remaining military enterprises will be equitized, divested, merged…”, General Ngo Xuan Lich affirmed.

General Ngo Xuan Lich, Minister of National Defense. Photo: Huu Cong

"The army does not do pure economics"

Major General Nguyen Van Khanh - Chief of the Central Military Procuracy, also said that, tIn conditions of limited budget, the military doing business will contribute to the goal of increasing military strength.

According to him,jobtThe restructuring of military enterprises will be carried out in the direction that the army will not do pure economic activities, but will do national defense economic activities.economic science and technology to serve the development of national defense and country potential.

Commenting on the above content, Vice Chairman of the Ethnic Council Giang A Chu said, in addition to the principled regulations,military economic policyIt also has to be based on practice, not all fields the army does.

"For example, in the garment and hospital sectors, whether or not there is a need for an army needs to be considered and reviewed," said Mr. Giang A Chu.

Delegate Phung Duc Tien - Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, commented that compared to the 2005 Law on National Defense, the provisions in this draft Law do not have any new points and do not clearly show the role of the State.

"It is necessary to affirm that the State is the subject with general responsibility in combining national defense with economy, culture and society. The Ministry of National Defense and other ministries, branches and localities are the agencies responsible for implementation and deployment. Such regulations are clear, ensuring a correct understanding of the combination of national defense with economy and culture.", Mr. Tien commented.

The National Assembly will continue to consider this draft Law at its opening session in May 2018.

According to VNE