The Government Standing Committee met to discuss removing obstacles to economic flow.

Recently, many localities and enterprises have reported the congestion in implementing BT projects. This is considered an unsolved link in the economic flow, if not resolved, it will affect growth.

At the meeting, delegates focused on discussing a number of issues with different opinions, such as the form of land allocation based on the principle of equal value, without auction, and the simultaneous bidding of BT projects and auction of land use rights. The major problem at present is the viewpoint of land auction or equal value payment.

The implementation of equal-price payments is determined by the People's Committees of provinces and cities according to 5 methods according to Decree 44/2014 on land prices. However, there are opinions that land prices are not close to the market, causing loss of public assets. On the other hand, there are opinions that if land is auctioned, the proceeds must be put into the budget for investment according to the Law on Public Investment, thus, the BT form no longer exists.

Speaking at the meeting, the Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Finance to absorb the comments to continue to remove and complete the Decree in the spirit of ensuring practicality for implementation, in order to promote the development of the country's economy, contributing to economic growth in 2019 and the following years. In addition, it is necessary to ensure legal strictness to avoid loss and waste of public assets, and fight corruption and negativity.

Emphasizing that the Decree must open up good space to use resources for national development, the Prime Minister stated that it is necessary to soon issue this Decree with a clearer BT investment process and better supervision.

Stating that localities are looking forward to this document, the Prime Minister emphasized the spirit of following market principles and fighting corruption and negativity.

Also at the meeting, the Government Standing Committee discussed and reviewed the draft Decree detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Planning.

Since January 1, 2019, the Law on Planning and 52 laws and ordinances related to planning have been amended, supplemented and come into effect.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, during the period when there is no new period planning established according to the provisions of the Law on Planning, ministries, branches and localities encounter some major difficulties and obstacles in implementing the transition for planning such as some planned planning in the Planning List integrated into national planning, regional planning and provincial planning.

Some national sectoral plans were previously regulated by specialized laws, but the provisions of these specialized laws have now expired since January 1, 2019 and must be implemented in accordance with the provisions of the Planning Law. Therefore, local adjustments to these plans cannot be implemented in accordance with the provisions of the expired specialized laws.

According to the provisions of Point a, Clause 1, Article 59 of the Law on Planning, national-level planning, regional planning, and provincial planning in the national planning system (mainly national-level planning such as national land use planning, 39 national sectoral planning) shall continue to be implemented until the end of the planning period. During the implementation process, if it is necessary to adjust the planning to suit the reality, the adjustment shall be made in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Planning and relevant current specialized laws.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment believes that the content of the draft Decree has been basically completed. Therefore, it is necessary to issue the Decree soon so that ministries, branches and localities have a full legal basis to organize planning for the period 2021-2030. The delay in issuing the Decree affects the issuance of the Circular guiding the cost norms for planning activities, and at the same time greatly affects the planning work for the new planning period.

The Prime Minister proposed that, first of all, a Decree guiding the implementation of the Law on Planning should be issued on points that are not facing major obstacles in the spirit that the draft Decree will not stipulate transitional content for the plans stipulated in Article 59 of the Law on Planning. In addition, for anything that is still stuck and cannot be implemented, due to the law or the complexity of integration, the Government should report to the National Assembly Standing Committee to request a delay.

The Prime Minister emphasized the need to carry out these two tasks soon. All levels and sectors must continue to implement the issues raised to avoid bottlenecks in production, business, and the “flow of the economy”, especially in the area of ​​energy.