VietNamNet Bridge – The Government has outlined urgent solutions to accelerate economic recovery, according to its newly-issued Resolution.

First, the State Bank of Viet Nam will continue to reduce lending interest rates in early April, intensify investigations at commercial banks, unblock loan conditions and procedures to facilitate credit circulation in the economy, prioritize loans for agricultural production and rural areas.

It will have to work with the Ministry of Construction to promptly guide and deploy credit assistance for households and individuals to enjoy a low and stable interest rate when buying social policy houses, low-income houses and commercial houses with floor space of less than 70 square meters at a cost of below VND15 million per square meter.

Second, the Ministry of Construction will promptly propose new policies to enable more people to buy and own houses including overseas Vietnamese, foreign organizations and individuals and submit the fresh policies to competent agencies to consider and decide.

Third, the Ministry of Finance will strictly control the spending sourced from budget reserves; assess the realization of fiscal policies in accordance with Resolution 02/NQ-CP, possibilities to guarantee 2013 budget balance; consider pulling down corporate income tax down to 20%; apply VAT tax breaks and report to the Government in April, 2013.

Fourth, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Health will jointly work to adjust prices of electricity, gas, and healthcare services appropriately to prevent price escalation.

Fifth, the Ministry of Planning and Investment will speed up capital disbursement in fundamental construction projects, especially those spending State budget, Government bonds and ODA; consider advancing Government bonds for 2014 and 2015 for urgent projects which need to move quickly in 2013; research and propose mechanisms and policies to attract FDI especially in high-tech and auxiliary industries, and expand effective businesses.

Sixth, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will conduct measures to encourage export, streamline procedures, strengthen investigations, and carry out export procedures at localities and border gates; timely respond to cut-throat and illegal export competitions among Vietnamese enterprises; push up negotiations for Free Trade Agreements; promptly finalize negotiation plans for the Trans-Pacific Partnership and submit them to the Political Bureau.

Seventh, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will instruct the fight against droughts in the Central Region and Central Highlands and salt erosion in the South; work with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to ensure electricity and water regulation at hydro-electric dams on rivers to ensure water supply for production; collaborate with the Ministry of Finance to consider providing vaccines to combat  epidemics in poultry, livestock and aquaculture in the affected areas and work with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to set up Public-Private Partnership investment model in agriculture.

Eighth, the Ministry of Education and Education and the Ministry of Health will chair and work with the Ministry of Finance and relevant agencies to propose amendments to Decision 1466/QD, dated October 10, 2008, on standards and criteria for educational and medical establishments which are entitled to socialization promotion polices in accordance with Decree 69/2008/ND-CP, dated May 30, 2008, and submit it to the Prime Minister before April 15, 2013.

Ninth, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and Provincial and Municipal People’s Committees will continue to keep an eye on labor and employment situation and carry out measures to reduce unemployment especially in industrial production and rural areas; keep abreast with the life of people living in remote, far-flung and difficulty-ridden areas, poor people and those affected by abnormal natural disasters in order to provide them with timely assistance and food.

Tenth, the Ministry of Home Affairs will cooperate with other ministries, agencies and localities to define and publish the 2012 Public Administrative Reform Index (PAR Index). Ministries, agencies and localities shall continue to speed up the administrative reform in line with the Government’s Resolution 30c/NQ-CP; seriously realize the 2013 administrative reform plan; supervise and examine the implementation of the 2013 administrative reform work.

Eleventh, the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment will monitor and investigate the granting of land-use certificates, residential house ownership certificates, and land-related assets in accordance with the Resolution adopted at the 3rd session of the 13th National Assembly and the Prime Minister’s Direction 1474/CT-TTg; work with relevant ministries and agencies to resolve obstacles during the process of land-use certificate issuance.

Twelfth, Ministries, agencies and localities will promptly take action to conduct the Master Plan on Economic Restructuring; compose and deploy restructuring programs and plans in branches and sectors in accordance with their functions and tasks; strengthen administrative rules and disciplines; monitor, investigate, assess and review the implementation so as to put adopted mechanisms and policies into reality; positively prepare projects and reports for the upcoming 5th session of the 13th National Assembly.

Thirteenth, the Ministry of Information and Communications and related ministries and agencies will accelerate and proactively provide, disseminate, and explain policies especially those which draw much attention from the public. Ministries and agencies should focus on collecting public opinions and respect them during the process of making policies and mechanisms to ensure social consensus is gathered and the effectiveness of policies and mechanisms is achieved.

Source: VGP