VietNamNet Bridge - Transport Minister Dinh La Thang confirmed that after selecting the chief of the Road Transport Agency through examinations, the ministry will continue this model to eradicate corruption.

Minister Dinh La Thang.

At the annual meeting of transport inspectors last week, Minister Dinh La Thang said that examinations are the best way to make transparency in personnel organization because "Examinations will help prevent bribes for promotion.”

Thang said the Ministry’s Party Committee would set up and organize the examinations and the examination results would be considered by an independent jury of 15 members, with the chief jury being a deputy minister. The candidate who achieves the highest scores will be the winner.

"The Minister is not in the jury so the decision is completely made by the jury. It is very difficult to bribe all 15 jury members," said Thang.

The Ministry of Transportation has issued regulations on the examinations to select the chief of the Road Transport Agency in April. It is the first government body that chooses a high-ranking official through examinations.

Eligible candidates are the heads of departments under the Ministry of Transport (MoT), vice directors of the Road Transport Agency, rectors of universities under MoT, the director of the Viet Nam Aviation Academy, directors of institutes under MoT, directors of the board of trustees, general directors of companies under MoT and directors of provincial departments of transport.

These candidates must also meet other requirements based on age and strong profiles. Male candidates must be less than 55 years old and female candidates must be less than 50 years old at the time of the appointment. They must have been working in the transport sector for at least 10 years.

The examination will be divided into two parts: a 240-minute paper exam in which the candidates write out a 10-year action plan and a presentation that can last up to an hour in which they present their ideas and answer the jury's questions.

The ministry will receive applications from March 10 - 14.

The result will be announced on MoT's website.

"The public selection of the highest leader of the Road Transport Agency is proof of democracy in action. This is a breakthrough in the process of appointing high-ranking officials, ensuring we select the best candidates," said Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Hong Truong.

Truong added that the road sector is experiencing urgent problems such as transport infrastructure maintenance and traffic safety issues, so choosing the best candidate to properly lead the sector is the right move.

The Road Transport Agency is in charge of all issues related to road traffic nationwide. Its current director, Nguyen Duc Thang, will retire at the end of this year.

"The position presents many challenges," Thang stated, adding that Vietnam currently has more than 200,000 kilometres of roads in operation and about 100 existing road projects.