The Government Inspectorate has announced the inspection of overseas trips during 2012-2016 period from several ministries and localities.

The inspection covers the ministries of Finance, Industry and Trade and Information and Communications and the State Bank of Vietnam along with the six provinces of Vinh Phuc, Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, Dak Lak, Dong Nai and Tien Giang. 

According to the Government Inspectorate, the three ministries and the State Bank of Vietnam held 14,677 overseas trips for around 42,000 between 2012 and 2016 with a total cost of VND1 trillion (USD45.54 million).

Of the sum, the Ministry of Industry and Trade topped with 7,500 overseas trips for more than 24,800 officials; followed by the Ministry of Finance with 3,400 overseas trips for 8,200 people; the State Bank of Vietnam with 2,200 overseas trips for 4,500 people. 

It is said that during this phase, the Ministry of Industry and Trade had to send many officials abroad for free trade agreement negotiations, so the ministry had the highest number of overseas trips.

The Government Inspectorate also showed during this time, the six provinces of Vinh Phuc, Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, Dak Lak, Dong Nai and Tien Giang organised 2,900 overseas trips for 10,900 local agency officials with a total cost of VND261 billion (USD11.86 million).

Among those, Dong Nai Province topped with 1,170 overseas trips for 3,600 officials, costing a total VND87 billion (USD3.95 million).

Thanh Hoa ranked the second as the province spent VND42 billion for 627 overseas trips. It was followed by Vinh Phuc and Hoa Binh.

The Government Inspectorate said that the planning and calculation for overseas trips of ministries and agencies are not clear and not based on the real demand in many cases, causing wastes. Many overseas trips were held not based on the approved plan.

Meanwhile, the calculation of expenses for overseas trips remains unclear. It is necessary to define different kinds of trips.

Dtinews