Joint Circular No. 06/2007/TTLT-BCT-BTC guiding the expenditure regime and financial management of the National Brand Program of Vietnam

JOINT CIRCULAR

GUIDELINES ON EXPENDITURE REGIME AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OF THE VIETNAM NATIONAL BRAND PROGRAM

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BASED ON Decision No. 253/2003/QĐ-TTg dated November 25, 2003 of the Prime Minister approving the Project on Building and Developing National Brands until 2010;

BASED ON Decision No. 259/2005/QĐ-TTg dated October 21, 2005 of the Prime Minister establishing the National Advisory Council for the National Brand Program;

BASED ON Decision No. 250/2006/QĐ-TTg dated October 31, 2006 of the Prime Minister amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decision No. 253/2003/QĐ-TTg dated November 25, 2003 approving the Project on Building and Developing National Brands until 2010 and Decision No. 259/2005/QĐ-TTg dated October 21, 2005 of the Prime Minister establishing the National Advisory Council for the National Brand Program; 1. SCOPE OF APPLICATION: This Circular guides the expenditure regime and financial management applicable to the Vietnam National Brand Program pursuant to Decision No. 253/2003/QĐ-TTg dated November 23, 2003 of

This technical regulation sets out technical requirements, testing methods, sampling procedures; management requirements; responsibilities of organizations and individuals producing, trading, and importing cigarettes.

2. SOURCE OF FUNDS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAM: The funds for implementing the program shall be sourced from the Export Support Fund. When there are new regulations regarding the Export Support Fund, they shall be implemented according to such new regulations.

1. CONTENTS OF EXPENDITURE OF THE PROGRAM

II. SPECIFIC PROVISIONS

1.1 EXPENDITURE FOR PROGRAM CONTENTS

a. Consulting both domestically and internationally on building, developing, promoting national brands and images of Vietnam; planning and operating the program; market research information consulting;

b. Information; books; newspapers; magazines; reports; data;

c. Membership fees for participating in international organizations related to business and trade serving the common interest of the business community and related to brands;

d. Selection of product brands to participate in the National Brand Program; . e. Awarding enterprises with the Prime Minister's Export Prize and other awards within the framework of the program;

f. Surveying and learning international experiences in building, implementing, and maintaining the Program;

g. Promoting and advertising both domestically and internationally, organizing product presentations bearing the National Brand emblem through mass media;

h. Organizing seminars, conferences, forums;

i. Participating in international conferences, seminars, and forums on brands; .

j. Short-term training and capacity-building on branding and business enhancement;

k. Building, maintaining websites and application software for the Program;

l. Publishing and distributing magazines and publications of the program; .

m. Summarizing, analyzing, evaluating, and preparing reports on the results of the program.

1.2 EXPENDITURE FOR REGULAR ACTIVITIES OF THE PROGRAM'S PERMANENT OFFICE

a. Purchasing office supplies and equipment for the activities of the National Brand Council, the Program Secretariat, the Strategic Advisory Board, and the Expert Committees;

b. Hiring contractual labor and overtime work (for contractual labor based on time);

c. Communication expenses, office supplies;

d. Travel expenses; .

e. Other expenditures directly related to the Program's activities.

a. The State budget guarantees 100% funding for the contents specified in Points 1.1 and 1.2 of Clause 1, Part II of this Circular.

2. Levels of expenditure

b. Expenditure for meetings: - Host of the meeting: VND 150,000/meeting; - Participants: VND 70,000/meeting.

c. Other expenditure items shall be carried out in accordance with current expenditure standards and norms; in cases where there are no such standards and norms, the person authorized to approve expenditures shall make the decision and bear responsibility for it.

3. BUDGET PLANNING AND ALLOCATION FOR THE PROGRAM

a. Annually, based on the expenditure contents and implementation plans, the Ministry of Industry and Trade prepares the budget estimate for the Program and submits it to the Ministry of Finance in accordance with the State Budget Law;

b. Based on the allocated state budget expenditure estimate, the Ministry of Industry and Trade allocates the budget estimate for the Program in accordance with the implementation plan and the State Budget Law.

4. DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS On the basis of the allocated budget plan, the Ministry of Industry and Trade prepares a detailed expenditure estimate and sends it to the Ministry of Finance to request interim disbursement of funds according to the progress of implementation. At the end of the year, based on the final report approved by the competent authority and the request of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Finance will consider settling the remaining amount.

5. FINAL ACCOUNTING OF FUNDS FOR THE PROGRAM

a. Final accounting of funds shall be carried out in accordance with the State Budget Law, Accounting Law, and current guiding documents. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is responsible for reviewing and announcing the annual review of the final accounts for the Program while informing the corresponding financial authority to coordinate implementation.

b. Based on the announcement of the review of the final accounts by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Finance is responsible for auditing and submitting to the Minister of Finance for approval.

1. This Circular takes effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

III. IMPLEMENTATION

2. The Ministry of Industry and Trade assigns the Trade Promotion Agency, a subordinate agency, to take the lead in drafting plans, organizing implementation, and compiling final accounts of the Program's funds.

2. The Ministry of Industry and Trade assigns the Department of Trade Promotion, a subordinate agency, to be the lead agency in developing the plan, organizing the implementation, and consolidating the budget settlement of the program.