Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed an Official Dispatch on August 18 requesting that ministries, sectors, and localities speed up the disbursement of public investment funds over the closing months of 2023.

Official Dispatch No. 749/CD-TTg states that the disbursement of public investment capital in the first seven months of the year was estimated at 37.85 per cent of the plan assigned by the Prime Minister. Though this is higher than in the same period of 2022, when the rate was reported at 34.47 per cent, it is possible that many ministries, agencies, and localities won’t be able to fully disburse the funds allocated early this year.

To ensure a disbursement rate of 95 per cent in 2023, the Prime Minister asked leaders of ministerial-level agencies, government bodies, and central agencies as well as chairmen of People’s Committees of centrally-run cities and provinces to take full responsibility in directing the effective implementation of tasks and solutions.

Ministries, central bodies, and localities must accelerate the allocation, implementation, and disbursement of public investment and funds from the socio-economic recovery program and three national target programs, and speed up implementation of key national public investment projects, highways, key projects, and inter-regional projects.

The Prime Minister also called for the proactive and effective settlement of difficulties and obstacles and the boosting of efficiency at special taskforces headed by chairmen of People’s Committees.

It is necessary to strengthen discipline in public capital disbursement, accelerate site clearance, and tackle obstacles related to land and natural resources. Any contractor, project management board, organization, or individual that intentionally obstructs or delays the progress of allocating, implementing, and disbursing public investment capital will be strictly handled.

The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment to work with the Ministry of Finance to closely monitor disbursement by ministries, central bodies, and localities and report to him on a monthly basis to adopt flexible and practical management solutions to fulfil the disbursement target set for the year.