Ho Chi Minh City: Unlocking Dynamic Growth, No Halt in Public Investment Amid Mergers.

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has issued a plan for the transitional management of programs, tasks, projects, and public investment plans during the reorganization of the city’s two-tier local government structure.

This move aims to ensure continuity and consistency in implementing programs and projects, preventing any disruptions or interruptions caused by administrative unit reorganization. It also aims to ensure disbursement targets and clearly define the responsibilities of related parties to avoid overlap or omission of tasks.

Accordingly, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee requires that all procedures related to appraisal, approval, land clearance, bidding, acceptance, and payment must be carried out continuously without interruption.

The directive from the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee states: “There must be no disruption under the pretext of waiting for the merger or abolishment of administrative levels. Any officials or units that delay public investment procedures, affecting the progress, will be strictly handled.”

The handover and receipt of programs and investment projects must be carried out comprehensively, within the scope of management, and with complete documentation. Unnecessary procedures must be minimized, and there should be no instances of waste or disruption to the implementation and disbursement of public investment capital.

For ongoing projects that require changes or adjustments to their objectives or functions, the responsible agencies and units must report to the competent authorities promptly, in accordance with regulations.

The transitional management of programs and investment projects will be carried out in three phases.

Phase 1: Before the merger or split, a review, compilation, and listing of all programs, tasks, and public investment projects in the medium-term public investment plans for 2021-2025 and 2026-2030 must be completed by June 15.

The Department of Finance will take the lead in coordinating with relevant units to advise on the establishment of a task force or inter-sectoral steering committee to direct, monitor, and coordinate the transition of programs and projects. A focal point will be assigned to be responsible for receiving and managing the transition process.

The departments, districts, and Thu Duc City, along with project owners, will review and compile a list of programs and projects under their management and report them. They will be held accountable for any disruptions caused by waiting for the merger or abolishment of administrative levels, and any officials or units causing delays or affecting the progress and disbursement of public investment capital will be strictly handled.

Phase 2: During the merger or split, the handover and receipt of programs and investment projects will take place within one month, expectedly from June 30 to July 30.

Phase 3: After the reorganization is completed, investment procedures will be adjusted to continue implementing the projects, ensuring progress, and conducting inspections and handling violations. This phase will last for 15 days, expectedly from July 30 to August 15.

In phases 2 and 3, the handover and receipt must follow the principle of accepting the status quo, with a detailed inventory, clearly defining the situation, total investment, capital plan, disbursed capital, remaining capital, and unfinished tasks.

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee directs that the handover and receipt process should not affect the professional work of the transferring and receiving units. It also emphasizes minimizing disruptions in project management and clearly defining the tasks, authority, and responsibilities of each party involved.