Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh outlined the direction of merging some provinces, not organizing district level.

On the morning of March 5, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the regular Government meeting for February 2025. The meeting was held directly at the Government headquarters, online with 13 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region.

The Prime Minister assessed that the socio-economic situation in February was better than in January, and overall the two months were better than the same period last year. Ministries, sectors and localities have urgently implemented and completed the streamlining and reorganization of the apparatus; at the same time, drastic solutions have been implemented to promote growth with a target of 8% or more.

However, the Prime Minister noted that striving to achieve a GDP growth rate of 8% or more in 2025 is still a big challenge, and we need to continue to make every effort. According to the scenario, we must strive to grow the industrial and construction sector by about 9.5% or more; the service sector by 8.1% or more; the agricultural sector by 3.9% or more; and total import and export turnover by 12% or more...

Referring to the major and urgent tasks, the Prime Minister requested to first focus on completing the project to rearrange the boundaries of administrative units according to the direction of the Politburo to submit to competent authorities.

According to the Prime Minister, the orientation is to merge a number of provinces to expand provincial boundaries in accordance with criteria, conditions, circumstances, historical and cultural traditions; not organize at the district level; reduce focal points to expand the scale of the commune level; at the same time, propose to amend, supplement and perfect related legal documents.

The Prime Minister also requested ministries, branches and government agencies to complete internal organizational restructuring this week.

Another key and urgent task is to implement monetary and fiscal policies to serve growth of 8% or more; to operate monetary policies proactively, flexibly, promptly, effectively, and in a smooth, harmonious, and synchronous manner with a reasonable, focused, and key expansionary fiscal policy.

Resolutely implement the arrangement and streamlining of the organizational apparatus.

At the meeting, the head of the Government pointed out the main groups of tasks, solutions and some specific tasks.

According to the Prime Minister, in addition to continuing to perfect institutions as a "breakthrough of breakthroughs", it is necessary to promote administrative reform and digital transformation. The Prime Minister also requested drastic, serious, and effective implementation of the arrangement and streamlining of the organizational apparatus.

Ministries, agencies and localities need to review and propose to competent authorities to consider expanding the application of a number of pilot and specific mechanisms and policies that have been approved by the National Assembly in localities and have proven effective.

In addition, accelerate the completion of institutions for new growth drivers related to innovation, science and technology, and emerging industries.

The Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Finance to urgently complete and submit for promulgation regulations on the management of digital assets and digital currencies, learn from experience while working, and gradually expand, without being perfectionist or hasty.

The Ministry of Public Security is assigned to take the lead in strengthening the implementation of Project 06 in accordance with the new organization; speeding up data sharing, especially on land and minerals.

Ministries, agencies and localities must urgently complete the allocation of the entire state budget investment plan for 2025, to be completed before March 15.

In case of failure to allocate on time, the Government will recover the unallocated central budget capital to allocate to other projects in need of capital to speed up progress and review responsibilities.

The Prime Minister assigned Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha to immediately go to the Mekong Delta to preside over working with provinces on the situation of rice production, consumption, and export, ensuring raw materials, promoting highway projects, and responding to drought and salinity in this region.

The Prime Minister also requested maintaining macroeconomic stability, controlling inflation, ensuring major balances of the economy; continuing to effectively handle outstanding and long-standing issues; focusing on the fields of culture, society, environmental protection, natural disaster prevention and control, and climate change response.

In particular, the Ministry of Construction is taking the lead in promoting the program to build 1 million social housing apartments, focusing on certain groups such as young people under 35 years old, and implementing a program to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses.