Appraisal of specific mechanisms and policies for the North-South high-speed railway project

(Chinhphu.vn) - On the afternoon of October 31, Deputy Minister of Justice Phan Chi Hieu chaired the Council for Appraisal of the draft Resolution on a number of specific and special mechanisms and policies applicable to the North-South high-speed railway project (the Project).

Deputy Minister of Justice Phan Chi Hieu chaired the Appraisal Council meeting. Photo: VGP/DA

According to the draft Report of the Ministry of Construction , the development of the Resolution aims to pilot a number of specific mechanisms and policies, especially for investment forms for the Project; resolve a number of new issues arising in practice, successfully implement new directives of competent authorities; continue to mobilize investment resources, minimize procedures, investment preparation time, implementation progress, and train human resources to implement the Project...

Specifically, to further encourage organizations and individuals to participate in research and development of science and technology in the railway sector, the draft Resolution proposes to supplement a number of mechanisms and policies: organizations and individuals participating in scientific and technological activities and training to develop high-tech human resources to serve the Project shall enjoy incentives as high-tech enterprises according to the provisions of law on high technology during the implementation of the Project; the Government shall decide to select organizations, state-owned enterprises assigned tasks or other Vietnamese enterprises to be ordered to provide railway industrial services and goods.

Regarding specific policies for business investment forms, including tax incentives, the Ministry of Construction proposed the policy: "Investors are exempted from import tax on machinery, equipment, railway transport vehicles to create fixed assets and imported goods, components, materials, spare parts serving investment in construction, renovation, upgrading, maintenance, exploitation of railway infrastructure and other materials and equipment directly serving the Project that cannot be produced domestically or can be produced but do not meet the technical standards of the Project".

To ensure safety during the operation and exploitation of railway lines, and to ensure national defense and security, the draft Resolution stipulates the obligation of the Investor to connect data and train operation procedures with the national central dispatching system...

In addition, the draft Resolution also stipulates the responsibility of the state agency specializing in railways to establish a national central dispatching system and technical supervision on the connection of train operation data, train schedules, etc.

Giving comments at the Council, the representative of the Ministry of National Defense basically agreed with the content of the draft Submission and the draft Resolution; the drafting agency basically stated the urgency of developing the Resolution; requested the Ministry of Construction to carefully study the impacts and risks that indirectly affect the assurance of national defense and security; in addition, it is necessary to study and develop regulations prohibiting the transfer of projects to foreign investors.

Other delegates requested the Ministry of Construction to explain more clearly and specifically about the exemption of import tax on machinery and equipment...; requested to coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assess whether the draft content is contrary to international treaties of which Vietnam is a member or not; research and consider whether to allow project transfer or not...

Concluding the meeting, Deputy Minister of Justice Phan Chi Hieu said that the Council members agreed that the development of the Resolution was absolutely necessary; at the same time, he affirmed that the draft Resolution was basically consistent with the Party's guidelines and policies and the State's laws; ensured constitutionality, legality, and consistency; ensured security and defense issues; and the content of the draft Resolution was basically not contrary to international treaties to which Vietnam is a member.

However, the Deputy Minister of Justice requested that the drafting agency should explain more clearly the necessity of issuing the Resolution; clarify the relationship between this Resolution and Resolution No. 172/2024/QH15 dated November 30, 2024 of the National Assembly on the investment policy of the North-South high-speed railway project... because there are many overlapping contents to avoid overlap.

In addition, it is necessary to review and compare with the provisions of the current Railway Law, Geology and Mineral Law to avoid duplication; closely coordinate with Ministries and the State Bank to carefully assess the impact of policies in the draft Resolution...

Dieu Anh

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/tham-dinh-co-che-chinh-sach-dac-thu-cho-du-an-duong-sat-toc-do-cao-bac-nam-102251031215407443.htm