Localities ask for stronger decentralisation, delegation of power

Leaders of cities and provinces across the countries proposed that the Government and the Prime Minister continue speeding up decentralisation and the delegation of power to localities in parallel with suitable allocation of resources and strengthening of supervision and inspection during their online meeting with the Government on January 5.

Delegates at the conference (Photo: VGP)
Delegates at the conference (Photo: VGP)

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Ngoc Anh said that the city has seen higher work efficiency COVID-19 prevention and control as well as public investment disbursement thanks to decentralising and delegation of power to districts.

The city leader suggested that the Government increase decentralisation and delegation of power in areas such as capital construction, changing of land-use purposes, industrial park licencing, and the separation of ground clearance from projects. He also stressed the need for individual responsibilities and enhanced examination and supervision.

Sharing Anh’s idea, Secretary of the Party Committee of Da Nang Nguyen Van Quang held that the empowerment of localities is a motivation for them in settling difficulties and effectively completing socio-economic development targets.

He suggested that the Government should consider the adjustments of some legal documents such as Resolution No. 82 on industrial park (IP) and economic zone (EZ) management and a number of articles of the Investment Law regarding the authority to decide investment policy for IPs and EZs.

Along with dealing with problems in land management, the Government should design new policies in transforming the economic structure to optimise the potential and advantages of each locality, he said, noting that COVID-19 has unveiled limitations in the development models of many localities, including Da Nang.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Phan Van Mai underlined the need to delegate more power to localities in approving and adjusting local planning schemes, licencing urban areas and IPs, and separating ground clearance projects from construction projects.

He asked the Government to allow the city to add more funding from the local budget to support packages for local businesses to help them overcome difficulties.