Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to explain 8 issues.

Minister and Head of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung conveyed Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc's request for the Ministry of Industry and Trade to explain and clarify eight more issues, in addition to the assigned tasks.

On November 14, the Prime Minister's Working Group led by Minister and Head of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung inspected the Ministry of Industry and Trade on the implementation of tasks assigned by the Government and the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister's working group inspects the Ministry of Industry and Trade. - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Regarding the tasks assigned by the Government and the Prime Minister to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, statistics show that from the beginning of the year to November 5, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has been assigned 486 tasks, of which 286 have been completed (of which 222 were on time, 64 were overdue); 187 tasks have not been completed on time, and 13 tasks have not been completed overdue.

Speaking at the opening of the working session, Minister Mai Tien Dung said that through the Working Group, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc conveyed a number of opinions.

The Prime Minister assessed that the Ministry of Industry and Trade is a multi-sectoral ministry with many tasks and a very important position. In recent times, the Ministry has provided good advice to the Government and the Prime Minister on many issues in many fields related to mechanisms, policies, macroeconomic stability, trade promotion, market expansion, negotiation of free trade agreements, improvement of the investment and business environment, etc.

However, the Prime Minister also suggested 8 issues that the Ministry of Industry and Trade needs to clarify, explain, and report back to the Prime Minister.

Firstly, regarding the organizational structure, apparatus and personnel work. The Prime Minister has assigned the Ministry of Industry and Trade to restructure internally, rearrange and reorganize along with streamlining the payroll. Currently, the Ministry has 30 departments, bureaus, 32 universities and colleges, 11 corporations and general companies, with a very large number of cadres, civil servants and workers.

“Recently, the agencies have also inspected the work of receiving, using, promoting, transferring, and rotating cadres at the Ministry of Industry and Trade. There are problems with cadre work, the Ministry needs to seriously consider and learn from the previous term. The new Minister is also very receptive, he needs to do better in this work,” said the head of the working group.

The Prime Minister also reminded the Ministry that when sending trade counselors abroad, it must select qualified staff. "Such a big task, such an important position, must select qualified staff. If they go there and care more about personal matters than public matters, it will not be okay," Minister Mai Tien Dung conveyed.

Second, public opinion is very concerned about the operational efficiency of large corporations and groups under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, especially some loss-making projects. “So what are the roles and responsibilities of State management agencies and investors in these projects when appraising, examining, and approving policies and proposals? What are the solutions to handle, resolve, and ensure the effective use of State capital?”, Minister Mai Tien Dung raised the issue.

Third, the issue of policy response and branding of Vietnamese goods. When problems arise, the Ministry must urgently propose solutions, such as why domestic coal is still imported despite such a large backlog? Regarding branding, there are many emerging issues such as branding of Vietnamese goods, especially items such as rice and coffee; foreign enterprises are gradually taking over the position of Vietnamese retail enterprises.

Fourth is to promote equitization and divestment of State capital from areas where the State does not need to hold. This is a major policy of the Government. The Prime Minister's spirit is that the Government does not sell beer, sell milk, divest capital to attract resources from the people and foreign investors. Currently, the Ministry has actively put Hanoi Beer and Saigon Beer shares on the stock exchange, but needs to be determined to implement the divestment roadmap as soon as possible.

Fifth, the Prime Minister reminded the Ministry to continue promoting reform solutions, perfecting institutions, removing difficulties, facilitating production and business activities, especially promoting supporting industries, startups for business development, supporting small and medium enterprises in terms of markets, capital, etc.

Sixth, the Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Industry and Trade to pay close attention to market management, combating counterfeit goods, fake goods, and trade fraud. Recently, the newly appointed Minister has discovered and quickly resolved problems related to multi-level marketing activities.

Seventh is the environmental issue related to thermal power and hydropower projects. Recently, Minister Tran Tuan Anh met with all power production units to thoroughly understand environmental issues, and the Ministry also set up an inspection team for Ho Ho Hydropower Plant. However, the Prime Minister noted that the Ministry needs to pay close attention to promptly resolving concerns of local people when developing hydropower. Similar is the issue of pollution at Vinh Tan and Duyen Hai thermal power plants, and the licensing of waste discharge at projects such as Formosa.

“On the other hand, licensing projects, such as the steel project in Ca Na, depends largely on the control and assessment of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Science and Technology. If investors meet and ensure environmental requirements, they should be allowed to do so,” the Minister stated.

The eighth issue is to build an energy development strategy. The Prime Minister requested that in the current context, there should be no shortage of electricity for the South, for the production and business activities of enterprises, serving the industrialization, modernization and development of the country.

"The Prime Minister conveyed that it is necessary to determine that the solidarity and unanimity of the Ministry's leaders, departments and bureaus play an extremely important role in overcoming difficult times, stabilizing the situation, being proactive and determined, and fulfilling assigned responsibilities," said Minister and Head of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung.

The Head of the Working Group requested the Ministry of Industry and Trade to explain 13 overdue tasks that have not been completed, clearly stating the reasons, difficulties and obstacles in implementation (if any) and the expected completion time. The Working Group will summarize and report all of these contents at the Government meeting.

According to Chinhphu.vn