RESOLUTION 98 (amended): Needs to be implemented in a substantive and effective manner.

(Chinhphu.vn) - A good resolution is only truly valuable when it is implemented in practice, creating concrete changes in decision-making, project implementation, and how people and businesses perceive the development environment. With Resolution 98 (amended), the National Assembly has opened up a new institutional space for Ho Chi Minh City. The remaining issue, and also the decisive one, lies in the capacity to organize and implement it.

In practice, the biggest bottleneck is no longer the lack of mechanisms, but the way in which those mechanisms are translated into consistent, timely, and responsible action. For Resolution 98 (amended) to be truly effective, it requires the synchronized involvement of Ho Chi Minh City, central ministries and agencies, the entire monitoring system, the people, and businesses.

The ultimate measure of Resolution 98 (amended) is not the degree of decentralization or the number of special mechanisms, but rather a very real question: Are people living more comfortably, are businesses operating more efficiently, and is the city's competitiveness being enhanced?

Ho Chi Minh City: Rapid shift from policy to project

The primary and greatest responsibility lies with the Ho Chi Minh City government – ​​the entity entrusted with the authority. However, the core challenge isn't the question of "whether or not to do it," but rather two far more difficult criteria: How quickly can it be done, and how accurately can it be done? Because in modern governance, speed is a competitive advantage, while accuracy is a sustainable advantage.

The most important thing right now is for the city to shift from a "policy-making" mindset to a "project-making" mindset. Policies are just a framework; projects are where change happens. New mechanisms like TOD (Transition to Development), strategic investors, free trade zones, and special investment procedures will not automatically become effective unless they are immediately translated into an implementation package including: a list of priority projects, transparent selection criteria, a streamlined process with clear deadlines, accompanying resources (land, finance, personnel), and especially a single point of contact responsible for the entire process.

With TOD (Transit-Oriented Development), if development criteria around train stations, depots, and surrounding areas are not promptly issued, the mechanism of "retaining 100% of revenue from land development" will struggle to become a true urban finance engine. In that case, TOD could easily transform into fragmented real estate projects, instead of a comprehensive design aimed at optimizing public transport, restructuring urban space, and creating sustainable resources for infrastructure. In other words, TOD is not just a name, but a system of enforcement discipline: planning discipline, infrastructure discipline, environmental discipline, and financial discipline.

For strategic investors, if the list of priority sectors, selection criteria, and application processing mechanisms with a "countdown clock" are not announced soon, the granted rights will easily be misused – some areas will be too open, while others will be too closed due to fear of responsibility. In that case, the city might attract projects, but it may not necessarily attract partners who bring modern technology, management practices, standards, and the ability to drive the ecosystem forward.

Most importantly, Ho Chi Minh City needs to thoroughly understand a pivotal principle: having been delegated authority, it must dare to make decisions and dare to take responsibility. The spirit of Resolution 98 (amended) is not for localities to "request further guidance," but for localities to design their own methods within the given legal framework and be accountable for the results. If the habit of waiting for instructions for every situation persists, reform will be stifled right from the implementation stage – where breakthroughs should be the starting point.

In short, the measure of Ho Chi Minh City's progress during this period is not just the number of documents issued, but how many projects have been activated correctly, on schedule, and according to objectives, and whether citizens and businesses have truly felt the change. Only when the city transforms "mechanisms" into "projects," and "rights" into "results," will the Resolution truly come to life.

Central ministries and agencies: collaborate and coordinate instead of retaining power.

Decentralization only truly becomes meaningful when the central government shifts its role from pre-approval to creation, support, and post-approval. With Resolution 98 (amended), ministries and agencies are no longer just "the next approval level" in the procedural chain, but need to be repositioned as institutional, policy, and technical partners of Ho Chi Minh City in the implementation process. Here, the role of the Government is particularly important.

This requires a fundamental change in the way ministries and departments behave. Instead of requiring the city to "re-examine" matters already delegated to it, the central government needs to proactively review points of legal overlap, issue unified guidelines for interpretation, and establish mechanisms for quickly resolving arising issues. In new and complex areas such as free trade zones, special investment procedures, or urban finance linked to TOD (Transit-Oriented Development), delays not only cause missed opportunities but also erode investor confidence in the consistency of the institutional framework.

The central government's role is also reflected in designing a results-based monitoring and evaluation mechanism. Once decentralization has been granted, what needs to be monitored is not the procedural steps, but the ultimate effectiveness: whether the project is implemented according to its objectives, whether resources are used efficiently, and whether public interests are ensured. This post-audit approach both upholds the rule of law and creates space for localities to exercise initiative and creativity.

When the roles of facilitation and coordination are properly fulfilled, Resolution 98 (amended) will fully realize its value in socio -economic life.

National Assembly and Standing Committee of the National Assembly: Post-audit to protect reforms

With a pilot and groundbreaking resolution like Resolution 98 (amended), the role of the National Assembly and the Standing Committee of the National Assembly does not stop at simply approving it, but needs to be further demonstrated through mechanisms for monitoring, supervision, and timely adjustment during its implementation.

In the new logic of decentralization, the National Assembly does not need to intervene deeply in specific governance, but should focus on strategic oversight, revolving around three core questions: Are specific mechanisms being implemented in the spirit of empowerment? What are the actual socio-economic benefits? And are there any institutional risks that need to be identified early for adjustment?

This post-audit approach helps uphold the rule of law while protecting the spirit of reform, preventing situations where people are afraid to act for fear of making mistakes, or where half-hearted actions erode public trust. When the National Assembly monitors based on actual results and impacts, Resolution 98 (amended) will truly become a safe testing ground for innovation and the replication of effective models.

Businesses: From benefiting from policies to co-creating development

Resolution 98 (amended) will only be fully effective when the business community actively participates as a partner, rather than merely as a beneficiary.

For strategic investors, what is expected is not just capital, but also long-term thinking, modern management capabilities, and a commitment to the city. For domestic businesses, this is an opportunity to participate more deeply in the value chain, learn advanced technologies, standards, and management methods.

An open institutional environment lacking responsible business participation will struggle to create sustainable value. Conversely, when businesses consider the city's development as part of their long-term strategy, the ripple effect will be far greater than any short-term incentives.

Citizens, businesses, and society: Monitoring to keep reforms on the right track.

Ultimately, the role of citizens, businesses, and society is indispensable. Special mechanisms only truly become meaningful when they translate into better infrastructure, better public services, and a higher quality of life for the people.

Expanding the powers of the city government must go hand in hand with transparency and accountability. Citizens are not only beneficiaries, but also active participants in implementation and monitoring, contributing to ensuring that major policies are implemented correctly and in the public interest.

Institutions only thrive when they bring about real change.

Resolution 98 (amended) marks a significant step forward in institutional reform thinking. But the value of the Resolution lies not in the written provisions, but in the perceptible changes in urban life – in decision-making, in the speed of implementation, and in the quality of development of Ho Chi Minh City.

If properly implemented, Resolution 98 (amended) will not only open up new opportunities for a city but also form a model of reform that can be learned from and replicated nationwide. Conversely, if reforms stop halfway, opportunities will quickly slip away, and the price to pay will be much greater in an increasingly competitive world.

Therefore, the ultimate measure of Resolution 98 (amended) is not the degree of decentralization or the number of special mechanisms, but rather a very real question: Are people living more comfortably, are businesses operating more efficiently, and is the city's competitiveness enhanced? When the answer is "yes," then the institutional reforms brought about by the Resolution have truly fulfilled their mission.

Dr. Nguyen Si Dung

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/nghi-quyet-98-sua-doi-can-duoc-dua-vao-cuoc-song-mot-cach-thuc-chat-va-hieu-qua-102251218175542509.htm