Key national projects’ capital sources under review

Many delegates stressed the need to carefully consider the acquisition of agricultural land for implementing these projects. They agreed to raise the investment for key national projects, saying the figure of VND20,000 billion set in 2006 is no longer practical for the current situation while the market price is surging.

Delegate Tran Thi Quoc Khanh from Hanoi said it was necessary to increase the investment for key national projects to VND30,000 billion. Her view was shared by Tran Du Lich from Ho Chi Minh City, who suggested that key projects should not be invested in from overseas as this requires a large amount of capital in foreign currency that will make an impact on the macro-economy. The NA should strictly manage capital sources to avoid wastefulness and corruption while carrying out the projects, he said.

NA Deputy Cao Si Kiem from Thai Binh province said the duration for the projects’ implementation will be shortened if investment was increased to VND30,000 billion. He also proposed abolishment of the investment in key national projects from abroad.

Delegate Nguyen Lan Dung from Dak Lak province raised a concern about the acquisition of agricultural land for the implementation of national key projects. Vietnam’s agricultural land has gradually narrowed, and in the next few years, the country may have to import rice. This will be unacceptable, as Vietnam is currently the second largest rice exporter in the world, he said.

Mr Dung suggested using impoverished soil to build key national projects rather than using agricultural land.

Dinh Xuan Thao from Kien Giang province and Tran Dinh Nha from Ba Ria-Vung Tau province also said the NA should carefully consider the acquisition of agricultural land for key projects because this will impact on the daily lives of tens of thousands of farmers as well.