Public investment disbursement accelerates

Disbursement of public investment capital has become a bright spot of the economy, when in the first 6 months of the year, it is estimated that over 268,000 billion VND was disbursed, reaching 32% of the plan assigned by the Prime Minister.

Many large projects are continuing to be implemented, promising that public investment disbursement will be more positive in 2025. Photo: Duc Thanh

Speed ​​up disbursement, money has been spent effectively

The Government's determination in directing and operating and the efforts of ministries, branches, localities, investors, contractors... in disbursing public investment capital have brought about clear results. According to the Ministry of Finance , the estimated disbursement of public investment capital by June 30, 2025 reached over VND 268,100 billion, equal to 32.5% of the plan assigned by the Prime Minister, higher than the same period last year in both absolute and relative terms (disbursement in the same period in 2024 reached VND 188,400 billion, reaching a rate of 28.2% - PV).

Thus, the disbursement of public investment capital has accelerated significantly. Money has been spent effectively, reducing the worry of "having money but not being able to spend it" that has been mentioned for so long.

As an important growth driver of the economy , public investment disbursement has always been promoted, especially in recent years, when the economy is in difficulty, export and consumption drivers are under a lot of pressure. However, the concern of slow disbursement is always mentioned.

Even in the recent discussion session at the National Assembly, some National Assembly deputies still emphasized this. "Although the Government has made great efforts, managed decisively and strongly, and issued many practical solutions, the disbursement progress is still slow," said deputy Duong Van Phuoc ( Quang Nam ), citing the disbursement figure of the first quarter of 2025 - reaching 9.35% of the plan, lower than the same period in 2024, to prove this.

“This shows that the main bottlenecks are still institutional and human. This delay not only reduces the efficiency of State resources, but also limits the leading role of public investment,” said delegate Duong Van Phuoc.

This concern is real. However, it must be noted that the figures cited are for the first quarter. Now, after two quarters, the disbursement rate has reached 32.5% of the plan assigned by the Prime Minister. The disbursement of public investment capital is not slow, but on the contrary, it can be considered a bright spot of the economy.

In fact, the story of public investment capital disbursement tends to be slow in the first months of the year and increases sharply in the last months of the year. This is a regular and specific story. Because normally, the beginning of the year is the period when localities focus on project preparation and detailed allocation; meanwhile, contractors also need time to construct and accumulate enough volume for acceptance and payment, in order to accelerate disbursement at the end of the year.

Data shows that the disbursement of public investment capital in the first 6 months of recent years is usually only at 27-29%, but the disbursement rate for the whole year is still 93-95%. In terms of the disbursement rate for the first 6 months of recent years, the first 6 months of 2025 has the highest disbursement rate, promising that public investment capital disbursement will be more positive in 2025, especially when many large projects are still being implemented.

Furthermore, the quality of public investment is important. Reporting to the Government Standing Committee at a recent meeting on public investment disbursement, Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang said that public investment capital has been allocated more centrally, continuing to overcome the situation of scattered, dispersed, and wasteful investment... "Public investment capital is focused on important national projects and key projects, creating new momentum and new space for socio-economic development," said Minister Nguyen Van Thang.

Determined to disburse 100% of planned capital in 2025

Disbursement of public investment capital is very positive. However, the reality is that there are still ministries, branches and localities whose disbursement rates are still low after the first half of the year. Specifically, there are 58 ministries, branches and localities whose disbursement rates are below the national average. This is a significant pressure, as the total public investment resources this year are very large and the consistent target set by the Government is to disburse 100% of the plan, not just 95% as in recent years.

The report of the Ministry of Finance shows that all key projects and works have basically met and exceeded the set schedule and requirements, and no project has been delayed. To date, 16 expressways have been completed and put into operation, increasing the total number of expressways nationwide from 1,327 km to 2,268 km, ensuring the completion of the target of 3,000 km of expressways by 2025.

“This is a huge challenge,” Minister Nguyen Van Thang said, but also affirmed his determination to disburse 100% of the plan, so that the economy can achieve a growth rate of over 8% this year.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, at a recent conference on public investment disbursement, also stated that public investment is one of the important growth drivers promoting economic growth, production, business, job creation, and livelihoods for the people.

“Public investment plays an important role in promoting growth, stabilizing the macro economy, and ensuring major balances of the economy. This also creates a foundation for infrastructure development, activating social investment, attracting private sector and foreign investment flows,” the Prime Minister emphasized and continued to direct that 100% of the plan must be disbursed this year.

Many solutions continue to be implemented, including institutional solutions, site clearance, etc. Localities are racing to speed up public investment disbursement, avoiding interruptions during the merger and streamlining phase, etc. In addition, an important part of the work that the Government is trying to do is to remove difficulties and obstacles for long-standing backlog projects to free up resources for investment and socio-economic development.

“I agree with the Government's determination to thoroughly resolve difficulties and obstacles of slow-moving and backlogged projects to free up resources for development,” said delegate Trinh Xuan An (Dong Nai) at the National Assembly forum.

According to him, the handling of stuck projects should not stop at Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Khanh Hoa..., but there needs to be a comprehensive solution for 2,200 projects nationwide. "These 2,200 projects are equivalent to more than 230 billion USD, which is very large. I propose that the Government quickly classify and report to competent authorities and the National Assembly for a common mechanism, and at the same time, it is necessary to decentralize power to allow localities to be as proactive as possible in handling stuck projects, creating resources for socio-economic development," said delegate Trinh Xuan An.

When these projects are unstuck, it will not only contribute to promoting the disbursement of public investment capital, but also unlock social resources. According to National Assembly deputies, if this can be done, the GDP growth target of 8% this year will be achieved, at the same time creating the premise for breakthroughs in the following years.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/giai-ngan-dau-tu-cong-but-toc-d314706.html