Top-ten imprints in Gov’t and PM’s performance in 2009
VGP – Amid the global economic crisis in 2009, the Vietnamese Government has shown its active, drastic and creative performance to lift the country out of difficulties and gain more socio-economic achievements. The following are top-ten imprints in the Government and the PM’s performance in 2009, selected by VGP.
1. Việt Nam records
the highest GDP growth rate in the region – 5.2%
In
2009, Việt Nam succeeds in reining in economic downturn and obtaining a GDP
growth rate of 5.2%, the highest in Southeast Asia
To cope with the global
crisis, the Government timely allocated US $1 billion to stimulate investment,
production and consumption while offering interest rate subsidies of 4% for
organizations and individuals to take loans from commercial banks.
Through tax reductions,
postponements and exemptions, expanding domestic markets and launching the “Buy
Việt
The Government leaders
regularly worked with economic groups and local authorities to seek for
measures to promote production, business and export, prevent recession, and
secure macro-economic stability.
Thanks to those solutions,
Việt
The Vietnamese Government and PM make many important decisions in 2009 in order to escort the country through difficulties. These photos show some regular meetings of the Government – Photo: VGP |
2. Inflation rate
kept below 7%
The Government adopted
flexible and caustious financial and monetary policies in order to encourage
export, narrow trade gap, and control means of payment and outstanding credits.
To prevent pressures of hiking interst rates and inflation, the Government
timely readjusted interest rate subsidiaries, tightened long and medium-term
loans and terminated interest rate subsidies for working capital loans.
As a result, the total
budget collection continued to surge in 2009, standing around VND 390.65
trillion, equivalent to 100.2% of the year estimate. Meanwhile, the budget
overspending was controlled belowed 7% of GDP and slashed down the galloping
inflation rate from 19.89% last year to around 7%.
About 1,110 projects were provided with financial guarantees, worth of VND 8,360 billion in total.
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3. Expenditure for
social security surges 62% against 2008; poor households reduced to 11%
The Government and the PM
paid special attention to social security for poor people, beneficiaries of
social policies and disadvantaged areas.
The Government revised,
supplemented and issued many poverty-reducing and social security policies,
such as providing allowances to the poor (in the traditional Lunar New Year
festival 2009), laid-off workers, and low-income civil servants (in first four
months); speeding up the realization of the Program on poverty reduction in 62 poorest
districts nationwide; building water supply works in densely-populated islands
and ethnic minority areas; facilitating the construction of houses for rural
residents, students, workers in concentrated industrial parks, and low-income
people in urban areas; and increasing the benchmark salary.
The total spending for social security is estimated to be VND 22,470 billion, 62% higher than 2008. The Government has provided over 41,500 tons of rice for natural disaster-hit areas. Enterprises have given 62 poorest districts with more than VND 1,600 billion. At the end of 2009, the rate of poor households is around 11%.
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4. High sums of FDI
and ODA amid the global financial crisis and economic recession
Việt
The Government took many
measures to highlight Việt
The Government leaders
placed focus on economic cooperation through their foreign tours; promoted
external economic promotion; proactively negotiated and implemented the Free
Trade Agreements (FTA) with some countries; penned and put the Việt Nam-Japan
Economic Partnership Agreement (VJEPA) into reality.
Acknowledging its
increasing position, international donors pledged to offer Việt
PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng presses the button to launch the national database of administrative procedures, Hà Nội, October 26, 2009 – Photo: VGP |
5. For the first
time, the Government publicizes the national database of administrative
procedures
The Government and the PM
have continued to direct administrative reforms. The PM decided to establish a
working team in charge of administrative procedures reform.
For the first time, a national database of administrative formalities was launched, with over 5,700 procedures applied at four governmental levels from central to grassroots. All ministries and provincial-level governments introduced their own set of administrative procedures, marking a great leap forward in simplifying and abrogating at least 30% of current administrative procedures.
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6. Vigorous development
seen in education, health, culture, sports, science, technology and environment
The Government submitted to
the National Assembly for approving the plan on new financial mechanism for
education and training sector; offered nearly VND 18,800 billion in preferential
credit loans for students, doubling the 2008 figure.
Information and
communication technologies vigorously flourished. The total number of telephone
subscribers surpassed 113.6 million and Internet users 22.4 million.
Epidemic prevention and
food hygiene and safety were enhanced. In 2009, 85 district hospitals and 16 provincial
polyclinics have been built in mountainous and disadvantaged localities.
The Government directed the
drafting of scenarios to respond to
climate change and sea level rise.
Việt
The Government is directing
the construction and completion of projects to celebrate the 1000th anniversary
of Thăng Long–Hà Nội,
7. Initial achievements
recognized in anti-corruption, anti-prodigality and thrift practice
In 2009, the Government has
concluded a series of bills (27/31) and ordinances for the NA’s consideration
and approval.
The Government and the PM have
directed the enforcement of the Law on Promulgation of Legal Documents through
many new ways, such as reducing the number of documents, announcing their date
of coming into effect; and publicizing all draft documents on the Government
Web Portal.
Positive changes were seen in preventing and combating corruption. Competent authorities have inspected 297 corruption cases with 680 suspects; prosecuted 163 cases and 391 internees; collected VND 39.97 billion for the State budget.
The Government starts videoconferences since its March 2009 regular meeting - Photo: VGP |
8. The Government renovates
its working style
The Government and the PM
continued to renovate their working style in 2009. All Government’s working
programs and plans described missions, assignments and responsibilities for each
and every implementer.
The Office of Government perfected
its organization in order better its performance as the advisory agency of the
Government and the PM. The Office organized nearly 100 working trips made by
the PM to different localities.
PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng (5th from right) presses the button to launch the new interface of the Government Web Portal, October 10, 2009 - Photo: VGP |
9. New milestone planted
in the e-government development process
To provide transparent
information to the public, after each the Government’s regular meeting, the
Minister, Chairman of the Office of Government, as the Government’s
spokesperson, hosted a press conference to inform socio-economic situations and
the Government’s directions.
In addition, through the
Government Web Portal (VGP) and ministerial and local websites/portals, the PM
and government leaders provided formal information to people and mass media
while receiving the latter’s comments on draft legal documents.
On October 10, PM Nguyễn
Tấn Dũng launched the VGP’s new interface and the Government’s online newspaper,
planting a new milestone in the e-government development process in Việt
10. National
defense, security and social safety guaranteed
The Government has directed
the implementation of the Strategy on Fatherland Protection and the Strategy on
National Security in order to consolidate and protect national defense and
security, sharpen strengths and fighting spirit of armed forces, and secure
national sovereignty, whole-people solidarity, political stability, social
safety and order.
The year 2009 marks the
third time Việt Nam announced its “White Book on National Defense” showing the
views of follow a military policy of peace and self-defense with the guideline
of not using force or threatening to use force in international relations, and
solving divergences and disputes through peaceful solutions.