Gov’t proposes US$16.5 billion cultural development program in next ten years

The minister made the announcement at the ongoing on-going sitting of the 15th National Assembly (NA)'s 8th session on November 1.

The package is part of the national target program on cultural development in the 2025-2035 period.

Out of the financial resource, VND77 trillion will be sourced from the State budget. About 30.25 trillion will come from local budget. The remaining will be from other legal sources.

The program comprises seven general objectives including:

Firstly, create significant, comprehensive changes in cultural development and in building, perfecting the standards for ethics, identity and values of Vietnamese people and families;

Secondly, improve the spiritual life and accessibility to cultural enjoyment for the people;

Thirdly, preserve, promote the value of the nation's unique cultural heritage;

Fourthly, focus investment resources on key, quality and effective cultural development;

Fifthly, build a team of high-quality artists, leading experts and professional workers;

Sixthly, promote the public, scientific and national character of culture through creative innovation;

Seventhly, raise the country's international status by leveraging the 'soft' power of Vietnamese culture.

Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for Culture, Education, Youth and Adolescents Nguyen Dac Vinh agreed with the proposal. He also suggested the Government consider allocating more financial resources for the 2028-2030 period and consider feasible disbursement of the budget in 2025.

The cultural industry is expected to contribute seven per cent to the country's GDP.

By 2035, the ministry hopes to complete the restoration of 100 per ent of special national relics and at least 80 per cent of national relics, while the cultural sector will contribute eight per cent to the country's GDP./.