Mr. Nguyen Quoc Phuong, Director of the Department of Debt Management and Foreign Economic Relations ( Ministry of Finance ) said that over the past 30 years, ODA capital and foreign preferential loans have played a very important role in the socio-economic development of Vietnam.
However, during the implementation process, along with the strong development of the country and the increasing demand from localities and enterprises, some shortcomings and limitations have arisen. In particular, difficulties in the legal basis related to ODA loans, preferential loans as well as coordination between agencies and units show that there is a need for adjustment and innovation.
The Ministry of Finance has made efforts to receive opinions from organizations and agencies related to ODA loans to resolve difficulties and problems. Accordingly, from September 2025, Decree No. 242/2025/ND-CP on management and use of official development assistance capital and foreign preferential loans was issued and officially took effect.
The new Decree has overcome many limitations, strengthened the legal basis, ensured transparency, synchronization, efficiency and better suited to the public investment system.
Decree No. 242/2025/ND-CP focuses on a number of important orientations such as perfecting the legal framework, ensuring consistency in the legal system, and harmonizing with international practices. Along with that, reforming administrative procedures, simplifying and shortening the process of project appraisal, approval, and adjustment.
The Decree also aims at clearer decentralization and delegation of power, increasing the initiative of ministries, branches and localities, while at the same time associating with transparency and accountability.
At the workshop, representatives of the Department of Debt Management and Foreign Economic Relations introduced some new points of Decree No. 242/2025/ND-CP, focusing on three major groups of solutions.
Firstly, simplify administrative procedures, abolish many unnecessary intermediate approval and appraisal regulations for ODA and preferential loan projects; shorten the procedure for adjusting project documents, only consult the Ministry of Finance when adjustments increase capital significantly; simplify the process of receiving loans, assigning capital plans, using surplus capital and selecting serving banks; significantly reduce cases of having to adjust investment policies, helping to speed up project progress.
Next is to promote decentralization, delegation of authority, and delegation of the right to decide on investment policies for group A projects and many projects previously under the Prime Minister's authority to ministries, branches, and localities; assign competent governing bodies to participate in most regional projects, except for some specific fields; decentralize to competent governing bodies the decision on the use of surplus capital and project adjustments of state-owned enterprises that re-borrow ODA capital and preferential loans.
In addition, the Decree also improves mechanisms and removes obstacles such as clarifying regulations on state-owned enterprises using ODA capital and preferential loans, creating favorable conditions for public investment; supplementing regulations on handling assets and equipment handed over by donors to ensure a transparent legal basis; having transitional provisions for targeted budget support; supplementing decentralization of budget expenditures for science, technology, innovation and digital transformation; allowing capital withdrawal in the electronic environment, in line with the digital transformation trend and donor requirements.
Also at the workshop, representatives of ministries, branches, localities, sponsors and businesses discussed the completion of the legal framework in the management and implementation of public investment projects, especially projects using foreign loans and aid.
Discussions focused on issues such as removing rigid regulations on project implementation time to increase flexibility; considering using the donor's commitment document as the basis for approval; needing specific guidance on prioritizing the use of military forces; adjusting the management mechanism of aid programs and projects according to general regulations; clearly specifying the time limit for feedback during the file appraisal process; removing obstacles in financial mechanisms, including re-lending rates and differences between localities.
The Ministry of Finance affirmed that it will continue to accompany, guide and promptly remove difficulties and obstacles to ensure that the Decree soon takes effect, contributing to the country's rapid and sustainable development.
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/hoi-thao-ve-quan-ly-su-dung-von-oda-va-vay-uu-dai-nuoc-ngoai-20250926163446113.htm
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