“Funds Unused, Prime Minister Demands Action Against Ineffective Public Investment Officials”

On September 17th, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh concluded the 3rd National Conference on Accelerating Public Investment for 2025, highlighting significant progress in public investment disbursement compared to 2024. However, he acknowledged persistent bottlenecks and gaps that fall short of the set targets.

The Prime Minister emphasized the need to further accelerate public investment with greater determination and efficiency, focusing on enhancing investment quality and combating corruption, negativity, and waste. He stressed the role of public investment as a catalyst for growth, mobilizing societal resources to foster economic development, job creation, and improved living standards for citizens.

In the first eight months of 2025, public investment disbursement reached 409 trillion VND, achieving 46.3% of the plan assigned by the Prime Minister. This represents a 5.9% increase in the disbursement rate and an absolute increase of nearly 135.3 trillion VND compared to the same period in 2024.

Nine ministries, central agencies, and 22 localities have surpassed the national average disbursement rate. Notably, several entities with large budgets and high disbursement rates include the Ministry of National Defense (54.5%), Ministry of Public Security (64.8%), Thanh Hoa (90.6%), Ninh Binh (90.1%), Phu Tho (74.08%), Bac Ninh (64.6%), and Gia Lai (62.8%). Disbursement for national target programs reached 52.4% of the plan.

However, 18 ministries, central agencies, and 30 localities have yet to fully allocate the capital plans assigned by the Prime Minister, totaling nearly 38.4 trillion VND. As of August 2025, 29 ministries, agencies, and 12 localities have disbursement rates below the national average.

The Prime Minister criticized these entities and called for accountability and lessons learned. He urged them to implement effective solutions to enhance disbursement in the coming months, emphasizing that public investment disbursement results will be a criterion for evaluating officials and their performance.

To ensure 100% disbursement of public investment in 2025, the Prime Minister directed all ministries, central agencies, and localities to strictly implement government resolutions, directives, and telegrams related to capital allocation and disbursement. He also called for urgent reviews and assessments of disbursement progress for each project, categorizing them based on disbursement levels to establish specific monthly and quarterly targets, along with tailored solutions to meet the goals.

The government leader emphasized the need to engage the entire political system in land clearance efforts. He warned of strict actions against investors, project management units, and contractors deliberately causing delays in capital allocation and disbursement. Additionally, he called for timely accountability and handling of underperforming or negligent officials.

The Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and People’s Committees of provinces and cities were tasked with resolving challenges related to the exploitation of minerals as common construction materials, ensuring a stable supply for projects, especially key transportation infrastructure and nationally significant projects.

The Prime Minister also instructed ministries, agencies, and localities to return unused capital and hold responsible parties accountable. He underscored the importance of leaders demonstrating the highest level of responsibility in public investment disbursement, avoiding stagnation and ensuring efficient use of funds.

At the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh encouraged investors, project management units, and contractors to maintain a proactive spirit, working tirelessly through adverse conditions, adopting flexible schedules, and focusing on progress without setbacks. This approach aims to accelerate public investment disbursement, ensure project timelines, and prevent corruption, negativity, and waste.