Task forces have also been established to tackle public investment challenges.

The Government Office has issued a statement relaying Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s directive to review responsibility for the delays in implementing component 4 of the Long Thanh International Airport project.

After reviewing a report from the Ministry of Transport (now the Ministry of Construction) regarding the slow progress of component 4 in the first phase of Long Thanh International Airport’s development, the Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Construction to learn from the execution shortcomings and take corrective measures.

The Minister of Construction, along with the Minister and Head of the Government Office, must officially announce on the Government’s online portal and the Ministry of Construction’s website the Prime Minister’s directives and actions regarding the project delays. This must be completed by March 10.

The Prime Minister has also ordered the Ministry of Construction to expedite the execution of the first phase of Long Thanh International Airport and ensure substantial completion by December 31, in line with his previous instructions.

The Long Thanh Airport project consists of four components, with component 4 focusing on ground service facilities. Several contract packages within this component are behind schedule, potentially impacting the airport’s overall operations.

Component 4 comprises 17 construction items, divided into two groups:

Group 4a (included in the project’s total investment budget) consists of infrastructure such as Cargo Terminal 21, an express cargo terminal, cargo handling warehouse 1, aircraft sanitation facility 1, ground service equipment maintenance facility 1, in-flight catering facility 1, and a solar power system.

Group 4b (not included in the project’s total investment budget) consists of a fuel pipeline system supplying aircraft from the main depot to the airport boundary, aircraft sanitation facility 2, ground service equipment maintenance facility 2, cargo handling warehouses 2 through 8, in-flight catering facility 2, airline operations center, aircraft maintenance hangar, airport city, aviation industrial zone, and aviation logistics center.

Establishment of task forces to address public investment challenges

On March 6, the Prime Minister also signed a decision to establish seven task forces to oversee, address difficulties, and accelerate the disbursement of annual public investment capital across ministries, agencies, and localities.

Task Force 1, led by Standing Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh, will oversee ministries and agencies, including the Office of the National Assembly, Government Office, Supreme People’s Court, Supreme People’s Procuracy, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government Inspectorate, and the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance.

It will also monitor localities such as Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, and Binh Thuan.

Task Force 2, led by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, will supervise the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Construction, Central Party Office, Presidential Office, Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, Hanoi National University, Ho Chi Minh City National University, and provinces including Hanoi, Phu Tho, Bac Giang, Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, and Quang Tri.

Task Force 3, under Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long, will oversee the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education and Training, Ministry of Health, Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations, Vietnam Journalists Association, Vietnam Writers’ Association, Vietnam Lawyers’ Association, and the southern provinces of Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, and Ba Ria - Vung Tau.

Task Force 4, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc, will monitor the Ministry of Finance, the State Bank of Vietnam, Vietnam Development Bank, Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, State Audit Office, Vietnam Farmers’ Union, and northern provinces including Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Thai Nguyen, Bac Kan, Son La, Lai Chau, and Dien Bien.

Task Force 5, under Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son, will oversee the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam Electricity Corporation, and Mekong Delta provinces including Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Vinh Long, Can Tho, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, An Giang, Dong Thap, Kien Giang, Bac Lieu, and Ca Mau.

Task Force 6, led by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung, will be responsible for the Ministry of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, and northern provinces such as Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Vinh Phuc, Bac Ninh, Ha Nam, Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh, and Thai Binh.

Task Force 7, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh, will monitor the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Committee for Ethnic Affairs, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, Vietnam Women’s Union, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Vietnam News Agency, Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam Television, and Central Highlands provinces including Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, and Lam Dong.

The task forces will conduct inspections and provide guidance from the 10th to the 25th of each month.

They are responsible for identifying challenges, analyzing the causes of investment delays, proposing solutions, and reviewing the leadership’s responsibility in overseeing, directing, and addressing obstacles in public investment disbursement.

This includes evaluating the accountability of senior officials in charge of investment projects.

Tran Thuong