New Minister of Transport: 'Spending a single penny of the people's money must be considered'

'We will save every penny of the people's tax money, invest with focus, and not invest in transport infrastructure at all costs,' Minister of Transport Truong Quang Nghia shared on April 14.

- What advantages and challenges does the Minister see waiting ahead?

- In terms of advantages, I have inherited the achievements of previous generations of leaders. In recent years, the transport sector has received investment attention and has made great strides in development. The face of transport has changed significantly, many large projects have been completed, and experience in constructing large, modern projects has been improved.

However, there are still many challenges such as: traffic infrastructure in many places is weak and not synchronized, state management in the field of transport business has been improved but still needs much improvement, while the awareness of traffic law compliance of the majority of people is not high.

Sanctions have not been strictly implemented, investment capital for transport infrastructure is limited, not meeting the requirements of development. Competitive pressure in the transport sector is increasingly fierce, the need of the people and the country to upgrade transport infrastructure is increasingly urgent...

Minister of Transport Truong Quang Nghia.

- How did your predecessor's outstanding achievements affect you?

- The biggest pressure for me is how to work with the leadership team and all staff to complete the task excellently in the context of increasing difficulties, with a lot of heavy work. Public debt has reached the ceiling, investment resources for transportation are increasingly limited, while the people and the country demand to continue to modernize the traffic infrastructure and transportation system, in order to meet the cause of industrialization and modernization.

We will certainly do our best every day to help people travel safely and conveniently. More convenient trade will help the economy grow. However, to do this well, the transport sector needs the participation of the entire political system and the support of the people.

- What work will you prioritize in your new position?

- There are a number of issues that have recently caused public concern and concern among voters nationwide, such as BOT projects; traffic accidents remain high; infrastructure in some places is weak; investment and disbursement work in projects needs to be more public and transparent; there is overlap in management and operation of infrastructure and some areas...

I will review each specific matter, report to the Politburo, the Secretariat, the Prime Minister and inform the press agencies so that people know and monitor. In investment work, we maintain the principle that spending every penny of the people's money must be considered, responsible, and must ensure the quality and efficiency of investment.

We aim that by 2020, the transportation system must basically meet the needs of society, ensure quality, and reasonable prices; continue to reduce traffic accidents and limit environmental pollution.

- For you, what is most important in your new term?

- There is still a lot of work and it is still messy, I am afraid that in 5 years of term it will be difficult to do everything that is desired. However, there is one thing that must be done, which is to continue to innovate. Only with innovation can the industry develop. Specifically, it is necessary to innovate management and leadership styles; to innovate thinking and working methods. It is necessary to continue administrative reform, attaching personal responsibility to specific decisions, to each job, closely following the grassroots and practical life.

Recently, especially during the term of Minister Dinh La Thang, the administrative reform of the Ministry has been carried out very well and successfully, and I will continue that career.

- Vietnam's economy is facing difficulties, the Government's public debt has reached the ceiling, how will the Minister mobilize capital to complete the assigned targets and tasks?

- The capital for development investment is currently mainly borrowed, so relying on the budget is extremely difficult. We have integrated with the region and the world, the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) was signed last year, other FTAs ​​have been signed and gradually come into effect, which puts the transport sector in front of opportunities and challenges.

We will seize and cherish every opportunity to develop infrastructure, develop and promote the advantages of each mode of transport, creating a solid foundation for other economic sectors and localities to develop. After reviewing, we will report to the Government which projects will continue to be implemented, which projects must be adjusted and which projects must be stopped. All of this process will be conducted democratically, publicly and transparently so that everyone knows and agrees.

We will soon hold a meeting with sponsors and the business community to listen to opinions, suggestions and make appropriate adjustments in the spirit of harmonizing the interests of the State, investors, businesses and people.

The Ministry of Transport will always be receptive, listen to and respect the contributions; respect the capital of investors who want to cooperate with us. I would like to reiterate that we will save every penny of the people's tax money, not invest widely, invest with focus, key points, not invest in transport infrastructure at all costs.

According to VNE