Strengthening the decentralization of power to the Chairman of the City People's Committee.
In his opening remarks at the conference, Deputy Minister of Justice Nguyen Thanh Tu stated that, following the direction of the Government leaders, the draft law was designed using a "plus-minus" approach compared to the Law on the Capital City.
Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Tu explained: "Because Hanoi is also a special urban area, this draft law will inherit the most general policy frameworks, 'add' superior specific mechanisms based on the dynamic socio-economic reality of Ho Chi Minh City, and 'subtract' content that reflects the unique administrative and political center nature of Hanoi."
Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Tu stated that the initial goal was to create a law applicable to Ho Chi Minh City, but it was later adjusted to aim for a common legal framework for special urban areas, not only addressing short-term issues but also creating space for long-term development.
Opinions expressed at the conference showed a consensus on promoting decentralization for Ho Chi Minh City, as well as for its leaders, specifically the Chairman of the People's Committee. Mr. Phan Trung Tuan, Director of the Local Government Department ( Ministry of Interior ), stated that the Chairman of the People's Committee should be given direct authority to manage urgent socio-economic issues (instead of the collective decision-making mechanism of the People's Committee), thereby enhancing decisiveness and accountability. This is especially important for a special urban area with a huge workload and the need for rapid response like Ho Chi Minh City.
In addition, due to changes in the scope of regulation (not just for Ho Chi Minh City), a representative from the Ministry of Interior proposed studying the inclusion in the law of provisions on new-generation economic zones; core urban areas directly under the province or administrative units below the provincial level but playing a driving role in growth; emphasizing the idea of "socialist wards," helping special urban areas reorganize their administrative apparatus more flexibly and effectively in key areas...
Local budgets act as "seed capital".
The financial and budgetary mechanism for Ho Chi Minh City was a matter of great interest to many delegates. Representatives from the Ministry of Finance agreed with the view that Ho Chi Minh City's development should not only benefit the locality itself but also enable the city to play a leading role and contribute back to the overall development of the country. However, they expressed concern that the proposal to "leave all increased central government revenue and 100% of land use fees for the city to proactively invest in infrastructure" would affect the leading role of the central government budget.
Chairman of the National Assembly's Economic and Financial Committee, Phan Van Mai, analyzed that the essence of the Law on Special Urban Areas is to create mechanisms for Ho Chi Minh City to develop its existing potential. The local budget will act as a source of "seed capital" to guide and attract other social resources, creating double-digit growth for the country's economic engine.
As the private sector develops, revenue will increase, thereby creating a more abundant and sustainable source of budget revenue. The comrade suggested reviewing and further researching existing laws, such as the Law on Supporting Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, and subsequently adding new, stronger policy mechanisms to the draft law to promote the private sector in Ho Chi Minh City.
"Ho Chi Minh City must understand the underlying meaning: with what the National Assembly has granted, the city must generate a larger share of the budget, contributing more to the central government's budget. At that point, I am confident the Ministry of Finance will be more open to granting the city more financial autonomy," suggested Comrade Phan Van Mai.
In discussions with delegates, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong affirmed that the drafting of the Law on Special Urban Areas is a long-awaited aspiration of the people as well as generations of city leaders. Ho Chi Minh City is approaching the law with the spirit of seeking a larger development space, enhancing its self-reliance to implement the motto "Ho Chi Minh City for the whole country and the whole country for Ho Chi Minh City".
Responding to feedback from the conference, Deputy Minister of Justice Nguyen Thanh Tu stated that the Ministry will coordinate with Ho Chi Minh City to further refine the draft law on June 24th and 25th. Following this, the draft will be sent for official comments from relevant ministries, agencies, and organizations, and is expected to be submitted to the National Assembly Standing Committee for consideration and feedback at its regular July session.
According to Comrade Nguyen Manh Cuong, the city is deeply interested in "resource mechanisms" - policies that allow the city to proactively create and nurture new revenue sources, thereby providing additional financial resources for reinvestment in infrastructure and welfare.
"If the city has mechanisms to promote this more effectively, the rate of contribution to the central government will certainly be better," pledged Nguyen Manh Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.
Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/hanh-lang-phap-ly-chung-cho-cac-do-thi-dac-biet-post858998.html
