Vietnam’s infrastructure to meet modern standards by 2020
17/7/15
|
Photo: vov.vn |
Prime
Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has gave directives for the continuation of a
resolution to develop Vietnam's infrastructure to meet the demand of a
modern, industrialised country by 2020, which was approved by the
Party’s Central Committee in January 2012.
Three
years after the implementation of Resolution 13/NQ-TW, Vietnam has seen
the completion of important infrastructure projects including numerous
highways, seaports and airports, which have boosted the country's
socio-economic development, enhanced economic connectivity across the
country and improved commerce between Vietnam and the international
community.
However,
the implementation of the resolution had seen a number of shortcomings
and limitations such as the country's inability to fund large-scale
infrastructure projects and repeated bottlenecks during the site
clearance phase. Notable cases were the two urban train projects in
Hanoi and HCM City, which were both delayed due to slow site clearance.
In
light of public concern over these issues, the PM said Government
agencies, ministries and localities were to perform a comprehensive
review of the country's infrastructure projects to ensure that demand
for these projects was genuine and there were sufficient financial
resources to fund them.
The
Ministry of Planning and Investment will work with ministries and
localities to tighten control on the management of infrastructure
investment funds and establish legal guideline for investment under the
Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, which will be made available to
the public in the last quarter of this year.
Key
infrastructure projects that are unlikely to be able to attract funding
from the private sector will be given priority to Official Development
Assistance (ODA).
The
PM ordered the Ministry of Finance to conduct a review on the use of
financial sources for infrastructure development projects such as the
State budget, ODA, infrastructure assets and land capital to be
submitted to the PM before the end of the year.
The
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has been charged with
preparing solutions and mechanisms to speed up site clearance in
accordance with the 2013 Law on Land.
Local
people's committees, Government agencies and ministries were asked to
collaborate to ensure that site clearance is no longer a hindrance to
the completion of infrastructure projects.
The
PM stressed the importance of ensuring labour and traffic safety
standards were met, and urged increased supervision and inspections.
Regarding
the policy to encourage the private sector to invest in the development
of the country's transport infrastructure, he ordered the Ministry of
Transport to compile a list of projects that could be transferred to the
private sector by the end of this year.
The
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development were asked to submit a
proposal to attract other sources of investment for the country's water
resource and flood prevention projects for major cities across the
country such as Hanoi, HCM City and Can Tho.
All comments [ 10 ]
Despite achievements in poverty reduction, urban poverty in Vietnam started rising in the early 2000s, especially among unregistered migrants who are often among the poorest in cities.
Implemented from 2004 to 2014, the Vietnam Urban Upgrading Project addressed those challenges in the cities of Hai Phong, Nam Dinh, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho.
Narrow, dirty and flooded alleys are now paved, wider, cleaner and safer. Ambulances and fire trucks can now access houses. Children can play around the neighborhood and residents can expand their businesses.
Improvements in roads, canals, lakes, sewer and bridges, would benefit an additional five million urban residents.
The project did not just invest in infrastructure, it also provided access to micro loans for home improvement and income generation for households whose incomes are in the bottom 40%. So far, the repayment rate is almost 100%.
Communities actively participated in project design and implementation. They attended numerous meetings and supervised the infrastructure upgrading work in their neighborhoods
They also contributed their time, efforts and even donated land to improve access in the upgraded areas.
With $382 million financing from the World Bank and $140 million counterpart funding from the Government of Vietnam, the project has turned 200 low-income areas into vibrant, attractive communities, and transformed the lives of millions of urban poor.
It is estimated that more than 30,000 people in these five provinces will benefit from better access to markets and social services while environmental conditions at tourist sites will be improved.
infrastructure projects in the provinces are expected to raise annual tourism revenue to US$480 million by 2019 from US$190 million in 2012, helping to create an additional 85,000 tourism-related jobs, with 60% going to women.
Your comments