Planning to be cut in new law

The promulgation of the Planning Law would help the country reduce the number of low quality and overlapping plans, Dong told a meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly (NA) discussing the draft law last Friday.

Poor planning has been encountered in all ministries and localities, and the trend is increasing, he added.

Over 3,100 plans have been submitted between 2001 and 2010, and the figure is expected to increase six-fold between 2011 and 2020. Up to 95 laws and ordinances have regulations on planning.

Resources for the implementation of the plans have not been carefully considered, resulting in increasing infeasibility. Infrastructure development plans in the 2011-2020 period will require funding of $385-390 billion, while Vietnam would only be able to mobilise $210-215 billion from various sources.

As part of the upcoming Planning Law, plans would be carried forward only when resources for their implementation are ensured.

Plans at all levels would be built under the principle of ensuring stable socioeconomic development, and effective use of national resources.

To stop overlapping plans, the overall national plan would be based on the national development strategy, he said.

The government proposes the elimination of plans on products, which are considered unnecessary. They have the de facto effect of hindering production and business effectiveness, as they exacerbate the ask-give mechanism.

The term ‘ask-give mechanism’, refers to the means of governing society by orders rather than the rule of law, such that actions by lower officials are contingent on receiving approval from superiors, with various ‘favours’ exchanged in return.

Development of products should be decided by the market, not by laws, he said, adding that plans should be integrated to cut contradictions and overlaps.

Chairman of the NA’s Economic Committee, Vu Hong Thanh, said, “It is necessary to promulgate the Planning Law to legalise and concretise the socioeconomic strategy, following development demand, helping to improve the effectiveness of the state’s resources and working as an important tool in socioeconomic development management.”

Vice NA Chairman, Uong Chu Luu, proposed that changes in planning should be limited to ensure their stability. Only agencies which approve plans are allowed to change them.

However, the plans should be built in a flexible manner, in line with socioeconomic development in different periods, according to chairman of the NA’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Nguyen Van Giau.

The draft Planning Law, which comprises 8 chapters and 69 articles, is expected to be approved by the NA in April 2017, and take effect in January 2018. Plans which have been approved before the law comes into effect will be continue to be implemented until December 31, 2019. From January 1, 2020, all planning activities will be implemented under the law.