On March 27, Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh, head of Task Force No. 7, conducted an inspection and working session with five provinces in the Central Highlands: Lam Dong, Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, and Dak Nong, to accelerate the disbursement of public investment funds.

Progress in public investment disbursement

According to Tran Quoc Phuong, Deputy Minister of Finance, the total state budget allocation for public investment in the five Central Highlands provinces in 2025 is $1.1 billion (25.9 trillion VND), accounting for 3.13% of the country's total public investment capital.

As of February 28, two out of five provinces had allocated 100% of the planned capital. Meanwhile, the remaining three provinces (Lam Dong, Dak Lak, Dak Nong) still had $4.1 million (98.1 billion VND) unallocated, representing 0.37% of the regional investment plan and 0.13% of the national total.

The delay was attributed to stagnant land use revenue in Lam Dong and unallocated funds for national target programs in Dak Lak and Dak Nong.

By the end of February, the average disbursement rate of the five provinces was 10.64%. Three provinces exceeded the national average:

Dak Lak: 19.48%

Kon Tum: 18.47%

Lam Dong: 7.46%

However, Gia Lai and Dak Nong had disbursement rates below the national average.

Addressing challenges and ensuring smooth operation

Rah Lan Chung, Chairman of the Gia Lai People's Committee, stated that upcoming projects would require legal and administrative handover between old and new investors, causing potential delays. Some projects were cut short despite ongoing construction, affecting investors, businesses, and residents and complicating budget adjustments.

In contrast, Dak Nong's leadership affirmed their commitment to ensuring that "whether merged or not, the work must continue." The province aims to achieve a 95% disbursement rate in 2025, emphasizing that officials should not wait or rely on external factors.

Strict directives to maintain public investment momentum

Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh praised the Central Highlands provinces for adhering to the Government's resolutions and the Prime Minister's directives on capital allocation and public investment disbursement over the past three months.

He emphasized that local authorities should "maintain morale among staff and ensure that restructuring does not interrupt public investment work." He also called for corrective measures against officials exhibiting complacency or slow progress.

He set a goal of 8% economic growth in 2025, stressing that completed projects will benefit local communities and contribute to national development goals.

He further noted that successful public investment would unlock new growth opportunities in the Central Highlands, generate jobs, and improve livelihoods. To achieve this, localities should follow the "5 clear" principle (clear responsibility, clear tasks, clear progress, clear resources, clear results), regularly monitor progress, and collaborate with ministries to resolve challenges.

Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh also instructed the Ministry of Finance to work with the Government Office to consolidate local proposals and promptly address issues within one week.

The Vinh