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Socioeconomic development in 2014, tasks for 2015

VGP - PM Nguyen Tan Dung delivered the Report on socio-economic development in 2014 and major tasks for 2015 at the 8th working session of the 13th National Assembly on October 20. The following is the full translation of the report for reference.

November 02, 2014 7:27 AM GMT+7
National Assembly,

Leaders of the Party, the State and the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee

Revolutionary veterans and distinguished guests, 

Comrades and compatriots 

As scheduled, the Government has sent to 49 reports on various fields to the National Assembly. Today, on behalf of the Government, I would like to report on the contents related to socio-economic development in 2014 and tasks for 2015.  

Part 1

SOCIO-ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE IN 2014

We have realized tasks set for 2014 against the global backdrop of profoundly complicated changes. The world economic recovery has been slower compared to previous forecast. Conflicts have occurred in many places around the globe. Tensions in the East China Sea and East Sea have arisen.

Domestically, macro-economy was basically stable and inflation was put under control. Economic growth has gradually recovered but business environment, productivity, efficiency, and economic competitiveness still remained low while the requirements for international integration become increasingly high. Demand for socio-economic development and national defense and security was enormous while the resources were limited. China’s brazen placement of its oil rig in Viet Nam’s waters regardless of international law seriously threatens the country’s peace, stability and socio-economic development.

Amidst huge challenges and difficulties, under the leadership of the Party Central Committee, the Government has deployed a string of drastic and comprehensive solutions to realize the tasks figured out in the 2014 plan in line with the National Assembly’s Resolution. Task review, evaluation, adjustment and supplementation have been conducted on a monthly basis.

Thanks to the joint efforts of the whole political system, compatriots and business community, our country continued gaining positive socio-economic progress. On the basis of the first-nine-month achievements and those estimated to obtain for the rest of the year, the Government would like to report on socio-economic situation in 2014 and tasks for 2015 as follows:

1. Macro-economy

Inflation was put under control and macro-economy was more stable. The consumer price index fell sharply, rising 2.25% in the nine-month period – the lowest rate over the past decade; the index is forecast to increase by less than 5% this year. Interest rates dropped by 2% compared to last year’s end. The first-nine-month credit growth was 7.26% compared with 6.87% of the same period last year and is expect to expand 12-14% as planned. Exchange rate and foreign currency market were stable; foreign reserve set new record. Confidence in the dong was restored.

Exports grew fairly high, with the revenue increasing 14.4% in the first nine months, of which local businesses’ export value augmented 13% (compared to 3% of the same period last year). Many export items soared (pepper up 41.5%, coffee up 31%, footwear up 24.5%, cashew up 23.7%, aquaculture 23.7%, machines-equipment-spare parts up 22.1%, garments up 19%, phones and electronic equipment up 11.3%). Imports surged 11.6%, mainly machines, equipment and materials. This year’s combined export and import values are estimated at US$148 billion and US$146.5 billion, up 12.1% and 11% respectively. Trade balance, current account, and balance of payment continued to run surpluses.

State budget revenue in the first nine months rose 17.2% against the same period last year and is expected to surpass the preset target of 10.6%. Budget spending was ensured as planned and in urgent emerging cases. Budget overspending was equal to 5.3% of the GDP. Public debt, Government debt, national foreign debt were still within the limits allowed by the National Assembly in its Resolution No. 10/2011/QH13.

Total investment capital in the first nine months climbed 10.3% against the same period last year and is estimated at 30.1% of the GDP. Non-State sectors’ investment capital was estimated to rise 12.8% in the first nine months and about 5.45% for the whole year. Disbursed FDI volume was estimated to reach US$8.9 billion, up 3.2% in the first nine months and US$12.5 billion, up 8.7% for the whole year. ODA disbursement went up 10% to US$4.1 billion in the first nine months and is estimated to increase 7.1% to US$5.5 billion this year. Investment capital sourced from budget and Government bonds was projected to increase 18.3%.

Market and price management was strengthened; milk prices for children under six dipped as much as 34% for several categories, bid prices for drugs fell down by 25-30% on average. The Government continued with the roadmap for market-oriented regulation of prices of petroleum, electricity, coal, clean water, education and healthcare services, etc along with subsidies for the poor and policy beneficiaries. Prevention and control of smuggling and trade fraud were spurred.

Macro-economy and major balances of the economy were not really stable. Budget overspending was high. Public debts rose quickly. The Government’s direct debt obligations accounted for 14.2% of the annual State budget revenue in 2014 (compared to the cap of 25% as stipulated in the Government’s public debt strategy), however the figure was estimated at 26.2% if borrowed money for loan rescheduling, payment and refunding were included. Total demand rose slowly. Credit growth remained weak in the first months of this year. Non-performing loans (NPLs) was high while NPLs settlement made little progress. Resource mobilization for development failed to meet requirements. The stock market development was not stable. The real estate market recovered slowly. The ratio of domestic sectors’ export value remained modest. The efficiency of market management, trade fraud and transfer pricing prevention was not high.

2. Economic growth and business environment

A series of measures were deployed to reform administrative procedures and business environment and improve competitiveness, especially in such areas like tax, customs, social insurance, credit, land, construction, business establishment and dissolution, investment procedures, electricity access among others. As a result, the business environment has been improved, domestic and foreign resources have been better mobilized and used for development. The volume of investment capital registered by newly-established businesses surged up 13.9%, additional investment per each business rocketed 24.6% on average; the number of businesses resuming production picked up 5.1%.

The economy kept on growing, with 5.09% in the first quarter, 5.25% in the second quarter, 6.10% in the third quarter and 5.62% between January and September, higher compared to the same periods of the two previous years, and is estimated to expand 5.8% for the whole year. Industrial production, agricultural production, and service sector expanded 6.7%, 3.5%, and nearly 6% respectively. Total retail sales of consumer goods and services augmented 11.1% (6.2% if price factors are deducted). The number of international arrivals soared 10.4% to 6 million in the first nine months and is estimated to increase to about 8 million this year.

The business environment and competitiveness have been slowly improved. Administrative procedures remained cumbersome. Businesses still faced difficulties, including credit access. Financial and governance capacity of the majority of local businesses remained limited. The number of dissolved/suspended businesses was high. The ratio of non-public sectors’ investment shrank.

3. Economic restructuring

Generally, the economy has been restructured actively, focusing on strengthening management, improving institutions and policies, speeding up the restructuring of public investment, credit organizations, State-owned enterprises and agriculture in combination with the building of new-style rural areas.

The Government has submitted the draft Law on Public Investment to the National Assembly, renovated investment management on the basis of medium-term plans, steered capital to key projects to overcome scattered investment. Investment decisions were only issued on the basis of identifying clear capital sources and capital allocation capacity. Settlement of capital construction debts was strengthened and newly-groundbroken projects were closely monitored. Mechanisms and policies, especially those related to public-private partnership were further improved to lure non-public sectors’ investment.

The realization of the Project on restructuring credit organizations has been fostered. Weak joint-stock commercial banks have been basically restructured, the number of credit organizations reduced by seven ones, credit organizations’ financial capacity was enhanced and banking system safety was guaranteed. Some 53.6% of the total NPLs of credit organizations were reclaimed, restructured, and purchased by the Viet Nam Asset Management Company (VAMC).

A number of solutions for SOEs restructuring have been introduced, focusing on equitization, divestment, improvement of corporate governance and production efficiency, as well as the promulgation of new policies for facilitating equitization and divestment process. Over the past nine months, 71 SOEs were restructured compared to 74 in 2013, 200 for this year and the target of 432 for the 2014-2015 period, and the values of 123 SOEs were made public. Divestment volume was estimated at VND 3,500 billion or 3.6 times higher than that of 2013. Most of corporations and groups made profits, ensured State capital, and raised contributions to State budget. Restructuring agriculture and forestry companies has been under way in accordance with the Political Bureau’s Resolution.

Agricultural restructuring was beefed up in combination with the building of new-style rural areas. Policies were introduced to support plant structure shift, animal husbandry development, aquaculture farming, afforestation; encourage businesses’ investment in agriculture and rural development, application of scientific and technological advances, and agricultural mechanization. The models of large-scale rice fields, land concentration, production and business connectivity and cooperation were multiplied. The building of new-style rural areas reaped positive achievements with 790 communes satisfying 19 criteria (accounting for 8.8%).

Industrial structure moved positively with rising ratio of manufacturing and processing and falling rate of mineral exploitation. Many projects on electronics, energy, infrastructure development, etc have contributed to accelerating the industrial structure, exports, job creation and growth. Investment was expanded in potential service sectors like telecommunication, finance-banking, healthcare, transport, logistics, aviation, tourism and trade, etc.

Economic restructuring was sluggish. Productivity, quality and competitiveness remained low. Technological innovation pace failed to meet the requirements. High-tech and auxiliary industries developed slowly. The share of manufacturing and service in the GDP was lower compared to other regional countries. Domestic businesses have not deeply participated in the global production network and value chain. Preset targets were not achieved in restructuring agriculture. Public investment restructuring was slowly carried out [by some agencies and localities] and capital construction debts remained huge; foreign investment inflows in infrastructure development were still modest. Some weak credit organizations still existed. SOEs restructuring was not effectively carried out and the performance of many SOEs remained poor.

4. Strategic breakthroughs

The Plan for the realization of the 2013 Constitution, program on law and ordinance building, and National Assembly’s Resolution N0. 67/2013/QH13, have been actively deployed. The Government focused on promulgating legal documents on detailed implementation of laws, improving the socialist-oriented market economy institutions and promoting the citizens’ right to democracy.

Promulgation of guidance documents with improving quality was sped up. Due attention was paid to the enforcement of laws and resolutions approved by the National Assembly. The Regulations on monitoring the fulfillment of duties delegated by the Government and the Prime Minister were introduced.

The Government’s Resolution on improving the business environment and national competitiveness was implemented. Administrative reform was accelerated and brought about positive outcomes. Functions and obligations of ministries and agencies were redefined to basically overcome overlaps and weaknesses in State management. The Project on reforming public duty and civil servant regimes was deployed.  Continue to modernize administrative system, enhance application of information technology, make public administrative reform and IT application indexes of ministries, agencies and localities. Beef up e-administration and national database development. Responsibility and efficiency of State apparatus have improved.

Actively realize Resolutions adopted by the Party Central Committee, laws and policies of the State regarding education and training reform and science and technology development. Human resources witnessed developments in terms of quantity and quality. Due attention was paid to improve the national education system, reform high school curricula, textbooks and final exams as well as college and university entrance exams. Review and correct education organization at tertiary establishments; expand the pilot model of progressive education. Special attention was paid to education and training development in disadvantaged areas and among ethnic minorities and policy beneficiaries. Specific mechanisms were deployed to train workforce for the Northwestern, Central Highlands, and Southwestern regions, speed up the development of lower secondary boarding schools and education for ethnic minorities. Implement the program on education universalization, illiteracy eradication, life-long study, and support the development of high-quality vocational schools. Step up international integration in education and training.

Continue the national programs on technology innovation, high-tech development, national product development, and transfer of globally advanced technology. National funds for scientific and technological development were put into operation with initial outcomes. Expand order-placement and contract mechanisms for scientific research tasks. Develop technology market and consultancy, assessment, and counter-argument services. Enhance protection of intellectual property.

Review, improve institutions and planning schemes for infrastructure system. Speed up the mobilization of resources and diversify investment models. Focus on site clearance, especially at key national projects. Accelerate the progress of many key and modern projects on transport, electricity, irrigation, urban infrastructure, information system, etc to serve socio-economic development and national defense and security.

Socialist-oriented market economy institutions have been slowly improved, thus failing to create a real breakthrough for socio-economic development. The outcomes of administration reform and legal system improvement were not as expected. Disciplines and rules were not strictly observed in somewhere. Inspection efficiency remained limited. Policies were not good enough to quickly develop and use high-quality workforce. The quality of tertiary education and vocational training was limited. The ratio of trained labor was not as high as expected. Application of science and technology was slow. Resources for infrastructure development remained modest, non-State resources were not mobilized effectively, corresponding capital for ODA and public-private partnership projects was insufficient. Traffic infrastructure network failed to meet multi-modal requirements. Logistics services developed slowly and synchronously. Maintenance of infrastructure works received inadequate attention and lack resources. Many irrigation and transport works degraded gravely. Urban infrastructure was not synchronous, overloaded and its quality was low.

5. Culture and society

Amidst economic hardship, State budget was still allocated along with non-state mobilized capital for cultural and social development and social welfare.

All relevant policies were reviewed. Over 1.5 million people received regular preferential allowances and around 48 million houses were built or repaired, of which 13,500 houses were funded by non-State sources. Identification of remains of revolutionary martyrs and their dossiers received due attention. The movement “paying the debt of gratitude” was strengthened.

Promulgate legal documents guiding implementation of the Labor Code and the Law on Employment. Focus on job creation, especially for people whose land revoked by the State and those in ethnic minority and extremely disadvantaged areas. In the first nine months, 1.18 million people found jobs, of which 83,000 guest workers were sent abroad, up 32.6% against the same period last year, and the whole year’s figure is estimated at 1.58-1.6 million. Workers in Libya were safely returned home. Working conditions and labor relations moved forwards. Social insurance coverage rose. Unemployment insurance policies were effectively enforced.

Implement the Program on sustainable poverty reduction, support poor households to develop production, access to basic social services, and pour investments in infrastructure development in disadvantaged areas; housing policies to assist flood-hit residents, the poor, low-income groups; and preferential credit policies to back poor pupils and students. The poverty rate fell about 1.8-2% and 4% in poor districts. Over 2.6 million people received regular social allowances. Provide financial assistance for poor children, including those in ethnic minority and disadvantaged areas to cover expenditures for their studies and daily life. Launch activities timely to provide unscheduled relief and overcome consequences of natural disasters.

Public healthcare was strengthened with higher quality. Many hospitals were upgraded or freshly built, the number of beds increased by 1,200 at central-level hospitals. Overload reduced at several hospitals. Actively reform administrative procedures and reduce time for patients to wait for medical exams and treatment; process patients’ feedbacks more promptly through hot lines. Pay due care to preventive medicine and epidemic disease prevention and control. Develop healthcare in sea and islands areas and encourage the development of non-public healthcare. Enhance prices and medicine quality management and inspect medical establishments. Healthcare insurance coverage reached 72%. Grant autonomy for finance to public health non-business units. Gradually regulate roadmap-based prices of healthcare services.

Perfect legal regulations and improve the effectiveness of coordination in managing and accelerating communication on food safety and hygiene. Strengthen local-level testing capacity, prevent food poison and related diseases. Develop models of safe collective kitchens, street-food, and raw material zones. Intensify inspection of and impose hardest penalties for food safety violations.

Pay due care to the implementation of policies in favor of ethnic minorities; comprehensively review the realization of relevant policies and promulgate the Instruction to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of State management over ethnic minority affairs. Focus on enhancing the effectiveness of the works relating to the elderly, children, gender equality and women progress.

AIDS, drugs and prostitution prevention and combat witness positive changes. Widely and regularly disseminate the law and policies regarding the prostitution prevention and control. Reform detoxification and introduce pilot community-based post-detoxification treatment and management.

Implement the Party Central Committee’s Resolution on Vietnamese cultural and human development to meet the requirements of sustainable development. Strengthen State management over, pour investment, and encourage non-State investments into the development of culture, literature and arts, sports, thus bringing about positive outcomes. Beef up the movement the whole people unite to build cultural life and international culture and sport exchanges. Preserve and promote the national cultural values, many heritages have been recognized at national and global levels. Effectively realize religion policies and ensure the right to freeddom of religion in accordance with laws.

Enhance State management over information and communication. Press activities meet increasingly high and diverse demand of people, positively contributing to social consensus in national development and protection.

The outcomes of poverty reduction were not stable and the rich-poor gap remained wide. Labor structure slowly changed. The majority of ethnic people were still poor. A part of rural inhabitants still faced hard life both in terms of material and spiritual aspects. The number of people, especially the youth, who were unemployed or had unstable jobs was high. Insurance debts and late premium payment remained popular. Resources for ensuring social security and assistance were insufficient. Public healthcare failed to meet the requirements. Ensuring food safety and hygiene faced difficulties. There remained shortcomings in State management over culture, arts, sports, information and communication. Cyber security and safety were not well guaranteed. Social evils were complicated in many places.

6. Resources management, environmental protection, active response to climate change, and natural disaster prevention

Actively deploy the Party Central Committee’s Resolution, review and improve mechanisms and policies to tighten State management over resources, environmental protection and climate change adaptation.

The exploitation and use of natural resources were tightened with an increase in budget revenue from granting licenses for mineral exploitation. Active efforts were made in realizing the Land Law, building land survey database, streamlining administrative procedures, especially those relating to land allocation, land lease, and granting of land use right certificates (which cover 93.8% of land area). Management, protection and use of water resources were strengthened. The operating process of inter-reservoirs in river basins was completed.

Enhance inspection and handling of establishments that caused serious environmental pollution and infringe environmental stipulation. Programs on rural clean water supply and environmental hygiene, climate change adaptation were effectively deployed. Hydro-meteorological observation, disaster warning and forecasting systems were strengthened. Many projects on climate change adaptation in combination with natural disaster prevention were launched. The awareness and capacity of natural disaster prevention were heightened. Many major environmental targets were positively realized.

Environmental pollution still rose in many places and has been slowly overcome in river basins, rural areas and craft villages. Resources for climate change adaption and natural disaster prevention were modest. Consequences of natural disasters were immense. Inundation was slowly overcome in some cities. Marine resource investigations were not effectively carried out. There were shortcomings in mineral management and exploitation, not to mention environmental protection.

7. Anti-corruption, thrift practice and anti-wastefulness

Continue to improve institutions and legal regulations on detailed implementation of laws. Beef up the realization of the Action plan on anti-corruption, anti-wastefulness and thrift practice. Enhance economic, State budget and public property management, administrative procedure reform, inspection and auditing, asset declaration, transparency and dignify the responsibility of agencies, organizations and their leaders. Impose strict punishments on corruption activities and many complicated cases that caused serious consequences were brought to light.

Promulgate the legal documents guiding the implementation of the Law on Citizen Reception, Law on Grassroots-level Conciliation. Responsibility and coordination in citizen reception have been improved. Most of the leasders of ministries, agencies and localities have directly engaged in direct conversations with and settled complaints lodged by citizens. Around 85% of newly-emerged complaints and denunciations and 494 out of 528 prolonged cases were settled.

Anti-corruption and anti-wastefulness failed to meet requirements. The review, amendment and supplementation of the stipulation on corruption and wastefulness prevention and control remained slow. Measures to counter corruption in many agencies were not effectively carried out. Some cases have been slowly processed. The efficiency of inspection was not high. The rate of reclaiming corrupted assets was low. Judicial expertise proved to be inadequate. The waste of time and resources remained great. Some ministries, agencies and localities did not pay due attention to citizen reception, settlement of complaints and denunciations. There were a lot of land-related complaints.

8. National defense, security and diplomacy

Actilvey carry out the Party Central Committee’s Resolution to on the Fatherland protection Strategy in the new context. National defense and security potential and national defense posture were consolidated. Combined power and combat readiness of the army forces were reinforced. Timely smash acts of encroaching on the national security. Resolutely safeguard national sovereignty over sea and islands with proper measures and maintain peaceful and stable environment for socio-economic development.

Ensure social order and safety; strengthen crime prevention and combat with many gangs having been cracked down. Resolutely stop acts of violating laws, quickly stabilize the situation caused by China’s illegal placement of an oil rig in our country’s waters and provide appropriate support for affected laborers and enterprises for early resumption of production and business. The number of accidents, deaths and injuries continued to fall thanks to drastic efforts.

Diplomatic activities and international integration have been fostered. Fruitfully deploy the Program on diplomatic activities of the leaders of the Party and the State and the Action plan on international integration. Continue to deepen relations with partners, especially strategic and comprehensive partners. Actively accelerate the negotiations on free trade agreements both at bilateral and multilateral levels. Gain sympathy and support from the international community for country’s just stance and measures to safeguard its sovereignty over sea and islands. Actively join the building of ASEAN Community. Play a responsible role in the United Nations, and other multilateral organizations and forums. Effectively protect Vietnamese abroad.

The protection of the national sovereignty still faced numerous challenges. National defense and security required huge investments amid limited resources. There remained pressing social issues and complicated crimes. The ratio of raffic accidents was high. International integration, to some extent, was active spurred and the settlement of international commercial disputes was not effective. Modest outcomes were achieved in luring overseas Vietnamese to pour investment and participate in scientific and technological activities in Viet Nam.

 

In general, despite numerous difficulties and challenges, shortcomings and weaknesses, positive outcomes have been gained in almost all fields like economy, culture, social aspect, national defense, security, and diplomacy; people’s life have been improved, national sovereignty has been guaranteed; politics and society were stable; our country’s position continued to be heightened. Targets and tasks set out by the National Assembly have been basically fulfilled. It is estimated that 13 out of 14 targets for 2014 will be achieved. This is the concerted effort of the whole Party, people and army.

Part 2

MAIN TARGETS, MISSIONS AND SOLUTIONS FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN 2015

The world situation is changing unexpectedly with conflicts present in many places and the global economy projecting to recover slowly and contain risks. Regional economic connectivity featured with a network of new-generation free trade agreements has been invigorated in the current globalization trend. Major powers’ competition for influence in the region is taking place vigorously and sovereignty disputes over sea and islands are still complicated. Our economic integration has become increasingly deep and wide and the economy has to face added fierce competition. External and internal conditions have brought about numerous opportunities and given rise to challenges and difficulties as well, requiring concerted efforts in realizing goals set for 2015.

I. OVERALL TARGET

Strengthen macro-economic stability. Step up the implementation of strategic breakthroughs, restructure the economy in association with growth model transformation and improvement of productivity, efficiency and competitiveness, strive for higher and more stable economic growth compared to 2014. Continue with social and cultural development, environment protection, and improvement of people’s life. Foster administrative reform, anti-corruption and anti-wastefulness. Intensify national defense ad security and firmly safeguard national sovereignty, ensure political security and social order and safety. Advance the efficiency of diplomatic activities and international integration.

II. MAJOR TARGETS

1. Economic targets:

The GDP expands around 6.2%; consumer price index is 5% and total export revenue rises 10%, trade deficit accounts for 5% of the total export value; budget overspending is equivalent to 5% of the GDP; total investment capital accounts for 30% of the GDP.

2. Social targets:

Poverty reduction decreases by 1.7%-2% and 4% in poor districts; 1.6 million new jobs will be created; urban unemployment rate below 4%; trained labor ratio rises to 50%; the ratio of malnourished children under five drops to below 15%; number hospital beds per 10,000 inhabitants (excluding beds at communal medical stations) is 23.5.

3. Environment:

Environmental pollution treatment ratio increases to 90% at establishments which caused serious pollution; 82% of industrial parks and processing zones will be equipped with centralized wastewaster treatment systems that meet the environmental standards; forest coverage rate is 42%; 85% of rural residents and 82% of urban residents can access to sanitary water and clean water, respectively; 16% of urban areas of grade 3 and above have wastewater collection and treatment system; 85% of solid wastes will be collected in urban areas.

III. MAJOR TASKS AND SOLUTIONS

1. Business environment improvement and economic growth acceleration

1.1. Strengthening macro-economic stability

Follow flexible monetary policy in close and comprehensive combination with fiscal one, effectively control inflation. Regulate interest rates in accordance with inflation. Increase outstanding loans in line with the growth target and ensuring credit quality. Stabilize the exchange rate and foreign currency market, raise foreign reserves and guarantee the value of the Viet Nam Dong. Spur the healthy development of the securities market.

Enhance State budget management; focus on dealing with revenue losses, tax debts, and transfer pricing; promoting thrift practice in budget spending without increasing regular expenditures except for salary payment; ensure overspending as planned. Strictly control and improve the efficiency of using public debts, Government’s debts, and foreign debts within permitted line.

Speed up exports. Improve the efficiency of trade promotion and ensure the quality and trademarks for products. Fully exploit international commitments and current export markets. Redouble efforts in negotiations on bilateral and regional free trade agreements to expand export markets. Diversify markets and lessen dependence on market. Take proper measures to control imports. Improve the efficiency of handling trade disputes.

Strengthen mobilization of resources for development investment. Diversify capital mobilization channels and investment models. Adopt proper mechanisms to increase commercial values of projects and encourage private and foreign investments in socio-economic infrastructure development.

Enhance management of market and prices, combat trade fraud and smuggling, fake goods and protect consumers’ rights. Continue apply market prices for petroleum, electricity, water, healthcare services and education, etc with an appropriate roadmap while providing practical assistance to vulnerable groups.

1.2. Facilitating production and business

Take proper measures to increase aggregate demand and back market expansion. Accelerate investment disbursement, focusing on key and urgent projects. Facilitate credit access for businesses, especially small and medium-size ones. Pay due care to the development of the domestic market, intensify the campaign “Vietnamese prioritize using Vietnamese products”. Take specific measures to improve the business environment and competitiveness. Continue drastically reforming mechanisms and policies, streamlining administrative procedures, quickening the information technology application, create optimum conditions for citizens and businesses in the fields like tax, customs, social insurance, land, construction, business establishment-dissolution-bankcruptcy, investment, electricity access, etc.

Effectively carry out preferential policies to support sectoral production and business, high-tech application, small and medium-size enterprises, auxiliary industries, agriculture, and surmount natural disasters and epidemic diseases.

2. Acceleration of economic restructuring in association with growth model transform

Continue the implementation of the Master plan for economic restructuring and other plans for sectoral restructuring. Step up the application of scientific and technological advances and innovation, and green growth development; quickly raise domestic value-added ratio, productivity and the competitiveness of products, businesses and the economy; join global production network and value chain.

Quicken the restructuring of SOEs. Fulfill the equitization and divestment plans. Stakes will be sold in companies that the State does not need to retain the majority share. Improve corporate administration capacity and efficiency. Continue improvement of institutions, tighten State management over SOEs. Encourage the society to engage in production and business activities; quicken the development of private and collective economic sectors.

Deploy the Law on Public Investment and the medium-term investment plans. Reform mechanisms and policies and diversify investment models (BOT, BT, PPP), accelerate the development of domestic capital market and actively participate in international capital market, mobilize resources for socio-economic infrastructure development. Focus investment on transport, irrigation, electricity, water and logistics infrastructure development, especially works that play significant role in boosting national and regional economic development. Further step up decentralization and mobilization of social resources for infrastructure exploitation and maintenance.

Continue the restructuring of credit organizations; improve their financial and administration capacity, and credit quality; reduce risks and ensure the system safety. Complete the Project on restructuring credit organizations. Foster the handling of non-performing loans and the development of debt market. Adopt proper mechanisms to fine-tune the functions, raise capital, and improve the efficiency of the Viet Nam Asset Management Company. Fulfill the preset target of lowering NPLs ratio to 3% by the end of 2015.

Mobilize resources for restructuring agriculture in combination with the building of new-style rural areas. Focus on shifting, reforming agricultural production and strengthening the application of technical advances in agriculture. Multiply the model of combining production with processing and consumption of farm produce; develop large-scale rice fields and pursue agricultural value chain; cooperate in seafood exploitation and develop effective production and business models. Enhance the management of inputs and outputs quality in agricultural production. Encourage the development of models of cooperative economy. Push up the building of new-style rural areas in accordance with local specific conditions and resources. Provide support for businesses’ investment in agriculture and rural areas. Quicken the re-arrangement, renovation and improve the performance of farms and afforestation yards.

Develop industries with high technology level, added value, and localization ratio. Encourage the development of manufacturing and processing, electronics, information technology, biotechnology, agricultural mechanics and materials production, new materials, oil and gas exploitation and processing, renewable energies, etc. Create favorable conditions for proper and healthy development of the real estate market.

Continue developing such advantageous services like communication, aviation, finance, banking, and consultancy, etc. Develop multimodal transport, logistics, and e-commerce services. Improve mechanisms and policies to lure resources for fast development of the tourism sector.

3. Improvement of socialist-oriented market economy institutions

Continue improvement of institutions, mechanisms and policies; follow market rules, especially in price management, resource allocation, competition, and operation of types of markets while adopting mechanisms and policies to regulate distribution for social equality and progress; provide appropriate assistance to policy beneficiaries, the poor and ensuring social security.

Actively carry out the Program on law and ordinance building, the Plan to realize the new Constitution. Promulgate documents on detailed implementation of laws with time schedule and quality observed. Further improve the legal framework of market economy, international integration, and law-governed State which functions as the facilitator for development and promotes people’s right to democracy. Reform public service provision and operation of public service providers.

Focus on administrative reform and build a streamlined and effective State apparatus. Continue the implementation of the Project on reform of public duty and civil servant regimes. Accelerate the application of information technology and the development e-Government and national databases. Tighten administrative disciplinary rules and inspection, and improve the effectiveness of enforcing policies and laws.

4. Education and training, science and technology development

Implement the Party Central Committee on basic and comprehensive education and training reform. Innovate curriculum and textbooks in accordance with the National Assembly’s Resolution. Enhance living skill training and behavioral culture. Well organize the high school final exams, university and college entrance exams with innovative spirit; strengthen quality verification. Speed up the pilot mechanism to grant autonomy to public universities. Foster linkages between training establishments and enterprises; encourage all economic sectors to participate in education and training; push up training that reflects real market demand. Prioritize resources for pre-school universalization for five-year children. Review and improve education and training support policies for disadvantaged areas and beneficiaries, especially ethnic people. Effectively deploy the Project on solidifying schools, classrooms and public houses for teachers.

Continue the implementation of science and technology research tasks, national programs and innovate management mechanisms for scientific and technological activities. Place orders on, provide fund packages and grant autonomy and self-responsibility to organizations and individuals performing scientific and technological research. Improve the efficiency of science and technology funds. Step up the progress of building high-tech parks. Enhance the protection of intellectual property rights and develop the science and technology market. Support coporate technology research and development, transfer and innovation activities; give an impulse to the commercialization of research results. Encourage the seeking and transfer of source and advanced technologies from foreign countries. Create favorable conditions for overseas Vietnamese and foreign experts to join scientific and technological activities in Viet Nam. Develop a pilot model on progressive science and technology organizations.

5. Cultural and social development, improvement of people’s material and spiritual life

Effectively carry out policies in support of people with meritorious services to the nations, policies on vocational training, job generation, sustainable poverty reduction and social security, especially for ethnic minority and remote areas, poor districts, extremely difficult communes and villages.

Continue the policy to confer the title Heroic Vietnamese Mother, provide housing support for ex-youth volunteers. Adopt policies for fast poverty reduction among ethnic minorities. Raise social allowances for specific subjects. Fruitfully realize vocational training and job creation programs, especially for the youth, rural laborers, and newly graduated students. Take proper measures to maintain and expand labor export markets. Enhance inspection and supervision of social and safety insurance premium payments. Accelerate housing development and construction of public works for workers at concentrated industrial parks.

Improve the quality of medical examination and treatment and continue reducing hospital overload. Speed up the construction of several central and grassroots-level hospitals, lessen time for medical treatment at hospitals, develop satellite clinics/departments and family doctors. Encourage the development of non-public and public-private healthcare. Strengthen preventive medicine to avoid the outbreak of epidemic diseases. Effectively realize the program on tuberculosis prevention and control, Law on Healthcare Insurance, pharmaceutical industry development strategy, and develop the system of traditional medicine hospitals. Enhance management of medicine and food safety and hygiene. Improve the efficiency of HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

Implement the Party Central Committee’s Resolution on cultural and human development. Effectively deploy policies on literature and art development. Beef up the movement entitled all people unite to build cultural life. Effectively implement religious policies. Take care of and protect children, family affairs, gender equality, and promote the role of the elderly. Develop physical training and sports for everyone and high-achievement and professional sports.

6. Enhancement of natural resources management, environmental protection, natural disasters prevention and climate change adaptation

Continue to improve institutions. Actively implement the Land Law (revised). Review planning schemes and enhance management of mineral resource exploitation and use, conduct basic investigations on resources and marine environment. Encourage the development and use of new and recycled energies. Strictly control pollution sources and seriously handle violations. Resolutely deal with establishments that cause serious pollution. Beef up post-war bomb and mine clearance. Protect and develop forests, especially protective and mangrove forests; conserve nature and biodiversity. Raise weather forecast quality, actively cope with climate change and prevent natural disasters. Accelerate international integration for sustainable management and use of the Mekong water sources.

7. Acceleration of anti-corruption, thrift practice and anti-wastefulness

Review, amend and supplement legal regulations and take measures in order to counter corruption and wastefulness. Make public the performance of State agencies, foster inspection of civil servants and public duty regimes. Heighten the accountability of agencies, leaders, cadres, civil servants and public employees. Seriously observe regulations on asset declaration and control. Strengthen the efficiency of State management, particularly over fields that give rise to corruption and wastefulness. Competent agencies coordinate closely in anti-corruption. Strictly handle acts of corruption and wastefulness. Uphold the role of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations, information and communication agencies and people in the fight against corruption and wastefulness. Effectively carry out citizen reception and settlement of complaints and denunciations, focusing on completely handling prolonged cases.

8. Intensification of national defense and security, improvement of the efficiency of diplomatic activities and international integration

Continue the implementation of the Fatherland protection strategy in the new context. Develop people’s army and police forces into revolutionary, regular, seasoned, and gradually modern ones with high combat capacity and effective response to all situations. Consolidate the national defense posture. Enhance the potential and coordination capacity for grassroots level forces to carry out national defense and security tasks. Timely prevent and strictly deal with acts of law infringement, ensure political security and social order and safety. Fruitfully  deploy national program on crime, drug, human trafficking prevention and combat; resolutely fight against and crack down on crime gangs. Well combine national defense and security with socio-economic development. Guarantee traffic order and safety and continue reducing traffic accidents.

Continue deepening relations with partners in a practical and effective manner. Enhance multilateral diplomatic activities, actively integrate and heighten Viet Nam’s role in ASEAN, the Unite Nations, regional and international organizations and forums. Actively join talks on and sign free trade agreements. Enhance overseas Vietnamese protection work. Create a favorable environment and conditions for socio-economic development and national protection.

9. Acceleration of information and communication

Actively and timely provide unbiased information on socio-economic development, national defense, diplomacy and other issues of public concern. Enhance State management and give prominence to the role and responsibility of information and communication agencies. Ensure Internet security and safety. Well cover the country’s major events.

Uphold the role of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, mass organizations, press agencies in creating social consensus, as well as the national solidarity in realizing guidelines and resolutions of the Party and laws and policies of the State.

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National Assembly,

Comrades and compatriots,

We have worked together to fulfill the tasks set for 2014 at the highest level. In 2015, a part from positive outcomes and changes, our country will still face numerous challenges and difficulties. Heavy tasks lie ahead of us. The whole Party, people, army and political system should stay united and resolved to successfully realize the planned tasks for 2015. The Government hopes for the support and supervision of the National Assembly, Viet Nam Fatherland Front, mass organizations, and compatriots.

Thank you./.