Joint Circular No. 01/TTLB/BKH-TCCP guiding the functions, tasks, and organizational structure of the Investment Planning Agency under the People's Committee at the local level.

JOINT CIRCULAR

Guidelines for the functions, tasks, and organizational structure of the Planning and Investment Agency under the People's Committee at the local level

__________________________________________

Implementing Article 3 of Decree No. 75/CP dated November 1, 1995 of the Government on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Planning and Investment and Decision No. 852-TTg of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Civil Service Board of the Government provide guidance on the tasks and organizational structure of the Planning and Investment Departments of provinces and centrally governed cities and the Planning and Investment Offices of districts, counties, and provincial cities as follows:

I. ON THE FUNCTIONS AND TASKS OF THE PLANNING AND INVESTMENT DEPARTMENT OF PROVINCES AND CENTRALLY GOVERNED CITIES

The Prime Minister issued Decision No. 852/CP on December 28, 1995 to establish the Planning and Investment Department based on the merger and reorganization of the Planning Commission and the foreign investment cooperation organization in provinces and centrally governed cities.

The Planning and Investment Department is a specialized agency of the Provincial People's Committee (hereinafter referred to as the province) with the function of providing comprehensive advice on the planning and development of the economy and society of the province, formulating policies and measures for managing direct foreign investment in the locality; serving as the focal point for coordinating between departments and sectors within the province under the professional guidance of the Ministry of Planning and Investment. The Planning and Investment Department has the following tasks:

1. Organizing research and compiling plans for submission to the Provincial People's Committee for medium-term and short-term plans, selecting priority programs and projects, key balances such as finance, budget, construction investment capital, sources of foreign aid and investment cooperation, choosing partners for negotiating contracts, practical and effective export and import plans for the locality.

2. Cooperating with the Finance Department to prepare the provincial budget draft for submission to the Provincial People's Committee; monitoring the activities of economic units within its territory to align with the local socio-economic development plan; overseeing national programs and projects within the province.

3. Guiding agencies at all levels in the province to develop planning, programs, and projects related to socio-economic development; disseminating and guiding the implementation of state laws on direct foreign investment activities within the province; directly receiving project files from domestic and foreign investors wishing to invest in the province, and handling complaints and grievances from enterprises with foreign investment.

4. Monitoring and inspecting agencies and units in the province in implementing planning, programs, and projects for socio-economic development; proposing policies and measures to ensure the achievement of local plan objectives to the Provincial People's Committee; directly managing and implementing plans in certain areas according to the division of labor by the Provincial People's Committee.

5. Participating in researching and building mechanisms and policies for national economic management; advising the Provincial People's Committee to build and apply mechanisms and policies suitable to the characteristics of the locality and general principles.

6. According to the division of labor by the Provincial People's Committee, performing standing duties or chairing meetings on: reviewing economic and technical norms; appraising domestic and foreign investment projects; tendering and establishment of enterprises; managing the use of ODA and other aid sources.

7. Managing business registration and issuing business licenses in accordance with current regulations; examining and submitting applications for investment incentives to the Provincial People's Committee.

8. Preparing quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports for the Provincial People's Committee and the Ministry of Planning and Investment on the implementation of the local plan and the operation of enterprises with foreign investment; recommending training and improving skills for planning and investment staff.

9. Performing other tasks assigned by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

II. ON THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE PLANNING AND INVESTMENT DEPARTMENT OF PROVINCES AND CENTRALLY GOVERNED CITIES.

The leadership of the Planning and Investment Department of provinces and centrally governed cities consists of the Director of the Department; Deputy Directors assist the Director in various fields. The appointment, dismissal, and removal of the Director of the Planning and Investment Department of the province shall be decided by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee based on professional standards set by the Minister of Planning and Investment and with prior agreement with the Minister of Planning and Investment. Deputy Directors shall be appointed, dismissed, or removed by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee upon recommendation by the Director of the Planning and Investment Department.

Depending on the scale and characteristics of the province, the Planning and Investment Department may establish specialized divisions such as: Comprehensive Economic Planning; Financial Planning; Sectoral Development Planning; Cultural and Social Planning; Construction; Appraisal; Cooperation and Foreign Economic Relations; Enterprises; Administrative Organization...

The establishment of these divisions shall be decided by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee upon recommendation by the Director of the Planning and Investment Department.

III. ON THE TASKS AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE PLANNING AND INVESTMENT OFFICE AT THE DISTRICT, COUNTY, CITY, AND PROVINCIAL LEVEL.

The Planning and Investment Office under the District or County People's Committee is subject to professional guidance from the Provincial Planning and Investment Department. The Planning and Investment Office of the district or county has the task of cooperating with organizations in the district or county to formulate and compile socio-economic development plans and district or county budgets; planning infrastructure construction and rural development; monitoring the situation of economic entities within the district or county; assisting the District or County People's Committee in granting business registrations according to the delegation of the Provincial People's Committee, while facilitating communication between the province and the district or county.

Based on the specific workload, sufficient staff should be allocated to perform planning and investment work; capable of advising the district or county authorities on building and developing the economy and society in line with the Party and State's socio-economic development policy.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS.

The People's Committees of provinces and cities shall base on specific conditions of their localities to establish the Provincial Department of Planning and Investment and the District and County Planning and Investment Departments with sufficient capacity to effectively perform advisory and comprehensive functions regarding socio-economic planning and planning of their localities. During implementation, if there are any difficulties or proposals for amendments and supplements, they shall be reported to the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Government's Organization and Cadre Affairs Board for joint consideration and resolution.