Authorized by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai  on May 20 presented the Government's report on "Supplementary assessment of the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and state budget in 2023 and in the first months of 2024" to the 15^th National Assembly (NA)’s ongoing 7^th session.

According to the report, the Government prioritizes promoting growth associated with maintaining macroeconomic stability, controlling inflation, and ensuring major balances of the economy.

The report stressed that the Government’s goal is to coordinate macroeconomic management policies closely, effectively and harmoniously this year.

The Government will focus on renewing traditional growth drivers and promoting new ones, and continue to implement policies related to the exemption and reduction of interest rates, debt payment extension, postponement and restructuring, the report said, adding that the Government will also take on the exemption, reduction and extension of payment of taxes, fees, and land rent to remove difficulties for production and business.

According to the report, Vietnam's GDP grew 5.66 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of this year, while State budget revenue in the first 4 months of the year accounted for 43.1 per cent of this year's initial plan, representing a year-on-year increase of 10.1 per cent. 

Export turnover in the 4-month period increased by 15 per cent year-on-year, helping the country to gain a trade surplus of $8.4 billion. 

The report stated that attention will be paid to continuing to improve the quality of building and promulgation of legal documents, promoting decentralization, further simplifying administrative procedures and improving the single-window mechanism.

The report affirmed that the administrative apparatus must be streamlined in an effective manner, and the new salary regime will be implemented from July 1, 2024. 

According to the report, the re-arrangement of administrative units at district, communal levels in the 2023-2025 period will complete by  September this year, targeting to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of State management and to create favorable conditions for people and businesses.

The Government will accelerate the progress of important national and inter-regional transport infrastructure projects,  including the construction of 1,000 kilometers of expressways towards the goal of putting into use 3,000 kilometers by 2025, thus creating a new development driving force, increasing the added value of the land fund, and reducing logistics costs, it said.

According to the report, other tasks include developing high-quality human resources associated with promoting research, development and application of science and technology, and implementing comprehensive reforms in education and training.

The country climbed 8 spots from 115th to 107th in the latest Human Development Index (HDI) rankings, reaffirming its position among developing countries with high HDI scores.

More efforts will be made to synchronously develop culture, and harmoniously link economic development with culture and society, strengthen resources management and environmental protection, respond to natural disasters and climate change, and ensure water security, the report added.