Resolution No. 08/1998/NQ-CP On Measures to Manage the Plan for the Last Six Months of 1998

RESOLUTION

On Measures to Manage the Plan for the Last Six Months of 1998

At its regular meeting in June 1998 held on June 29-30, 1998, the Government decided on certain policies and measures to focus on directing and managing the plan for economic and social development and the State budget for the last six months of 1998 as follows:

A. SITUATION OF PLAN IMPLEMENTATION IN THE FIRST HALF OF 1998, EXISTING ISSUES AND MAIN CAUSES

Due to the forecast of difficulties in 1998, during the first half of the year, along with continuing measures to address the aftermath of natural disasters, the Government focused its guidance and management on resolving difficulties and obstacles in investment development and business operations; strengthened support measures for farmers and businesses to create more favorable conditions to leverage internal resources in accordance with the spirit of Resolution of the Fourth Plenary Session of the Central Committee (Eighth Term). Simultaneously, financial and monetary issues were handled flexibly and cautiously to minimize the adverse impact of the regional economic crisis, ensuring macroeconomic stability. The guidance and management work of the Government, ministries, sectors, and localities improved significantly.

These efforts contributed to overcoming difficulties together with the entire Party, military, and people; mitigating the decline in business activities; maintaining a relatively high growth rate (GDP increased by 6.64%); stabilizing the macroeconomy; maintaining national defense security; all fields such as education, training, culture, society, health... made progress.

However, the economic and social situation of our country is facing significant challenges and difficulties:

The pace of economic growth has slowed; social purchasing power and export markets have shrunk, domestic products face fiercer competition; the severe consequences of natural disasters continue to affect agricultural production; mobilizing domestic and foreign capital for economic and social development faces many difficulties, state budget investment funds are limited, corporate and household investment are lower than expected, foreign direct investment has decreased sharply; some urgent projects and programs cannot be implemented on schedule due to insufficient funding, thus directly affecting this year's and future years' economic growth. Budget revenue is low while expenditure requirements increase, putting additional strain on the budget; social evils have not been effectively addressed; employment for workers remains a pressing issue requiring concentrated resolution.

The above situation is due to multiple reasons. Besides the heavy impact of natural disasters and the adverse effects of the regional economic crisis, subjective weaknesses play a very important role. The effectiveness and competitiveness of the economy remain low without clear improvement; the implementation and organization of policies and guidelines of the Party and State aimed at accelerating the reform process, leveraging domestic resources, enhancing the efficiency of international economic cooperation to develop business activities... are still slow, failing to achieve fundamental changes. Obstacles in the institutional system and administrative procedures are still significant. Some officials, especially those at the executive level, still cause inconvenience and corruption, hindering the business activities of citizens and enterprises. The implementation of state policies and regulations, even timely and appropriate ones, sometimes and in some places, is not carried out strictly.

These subjective weaknesses need to be focused on and resolved in the near future.

B. MAJOR MEASURES TO MANAGE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 1998 PLAN

The primary objective of the guidance and management work in the coming months is to create a strong driving force for development among all social strata; to fully mobilize domestic resources; to attract and effectively utilize foreign capital; to overcome weaknesses in organizational implementation to overcome difficulties and challenges, stabilize and develop the socio-economic situation. In this spirit, the Government decides on the following major policies and measures:

I. ON AGRICULTURE

1. Focus closely on directing the care and harvesting of summer-autumn rice and the implementation of autumn-winter crop production, striving to achieve the set grain production targets.

2. Strictly direct the export of rice, ensuring national food security in all situations; at the same time, properly regulate the circulation of food to highland, deep inland, and food-deficient areas.

3. Accelerate the construction progress of urgent water conservancy projects in the flood-prone region of the Mekong Delta before the 1998 rainy season. Strictly direct measures to protect dikes and prevent floods and storms; have specific plans to deal with the worst possible scenarios.

4. Provincial People's Committees need to quickly review the area of industrial crops, especially the area of coffee, cashew, pepper... damaged by severe drought recently. The State ensures sufficient preferential credit capital for farmers to care for and restore damaged industrial crop areas and to lend for sugarcane planting in areas that already have sugar factories.

5. Agricultural product consumption linked to the development of agricultural product processing industries aimed at promoting exports and improving the efficiency of agricultural production is a crucial factor that needs appropriate attention. Encourage economic sectors to invest in building processing facilities and marketing products for farmers. Central and local state trading companies need to focus on developing specific plans to expand domestic and international markets for agricultural products. Prioritize investment in developing agricultural, forestry, and marine product processing industries suitable for each region. The Government will support investment in processing, particularly deep processing, to improve the quality of certain export items such as rice, seafood, tea, coffee, and other fruits, vegetables, and food products...

6. The State encourages and creates conditions for economic sectors to invest in purchasing fishing vessels and equipment for distant-water fishing. State-owned fishing enterprises need to urgently reform their organization and management to improve operational efficiency and better play a core role for fishermen operating in offshore waters, including in fishing, buying, processing, selling products, and related services. Continue to improve loan procedures and accelerate the disbursement of funds for distant-water fishing vessel construction projects. Pay due attention to training technical workers and managers for distant-water fishing. Strengthen storm warning and rescue operations at sea.

7. Summarize the implementation of Program 327 and economic models in mountainous and forested areas over the past years to draw necessary lessons for formulating mechanisms, policies, organizational methods, and guidance to ensure high effectiveness in exploiting 10 million hectares of vacant land and barren mountains. In the short term, draw lessons to guide the planting of 5 million hectares of forests. Implement plans to reclaim concentrated areas in the Long Xuyen Quadrangle, Central Highlands, and Binh Phuoc Province to relocate households without farmland in the Mekong Delta to settle in these regions. At the same time, strongly encourage the people to invest in exploiting vacant land and barren mountains to plant industrial crops, fruit trees, and livestock farming in farmsteads.

8. The Chairmen of Provincial People's Committees shall take practical measures to prevent forest fires; strictly handle cases of violations causing forest fires and closely direct replanting to compensate for lost areas.

9. Provincial People's Committees must be well-informed about food shortages in their provinces and promptly implement timely relief measures; direct the planting of short-term vegetable crops to prevent hunger.

10. Enhance the responsibility of all levels of government in resolving citizens' complaints; implement grassroots democratic regulations well; ensure rural security, stability, and unity.

II. ON INDUSTRY AND STATE ENTERPRISE RESTRUCTURING

1. For products competitive in both domestic and international markets, especially export products from various economic sectors, preferential credit loans are available for equipment and technology upgrades and business expansion; reward policies are provided for enterprises with many exported goods or new, high-tech products, and for organizations and individuals who open new export markets.

2. Continuing to reform and improve the operation of state-owned enterprises is an urgent and fundamental requirement of the economy. In the last six months of 1998, while implementing measures to correct and reform state-owned enterprise activities, efforts should be accelerated to implement the policy of shareholding of state-owned enterprises. At the same time, direct the implementation of pilot programs for leasing, converting to collective ownership, or selling some enterprises that do not need to remain state-owned according to the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the Party Central Committee (Eighth Term) Resolution.

In the third quarter of 1998, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Construction, Hanoi City, and Ho Chi Minh City will announce lists of state-owned enterprises planned for shareholding and implementation plans for the year. Other ministries, sectors, and provinces continue to announce lists of state-owned enterprises to be shareheld in 1998 and prepare restructuring and shareholding plans for enterprises in 1999. Simultaneously, urgently implement Decree No. 44/1998/NĐ-CP dated June 29, 1998, of the Government on converting state-owned enterprises into joint-stock companies.

Article 1: Rectify and strengthen the cadre of enterprise managers with good moral qualities and capabilities for state-owned enterprises; resolutely replace managers of enterprises who have committed violations, lack capability, and cannot fulfill their responsibilities.

4. By the end of the third quarter of 1998, the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities must complete plans to resolve difficulties for local enterprises, including economic solutions and organizational and cadre solutions, to be submitted to the Prime Minister.

5. The Ministry of Planning and Investment needs to establish a specialized department responsible for resolving or reporting promptly to the competent authority any bottlenecks and difficulties in production and business operations of foreign-invested enterprises, particularly focusing on maintaining labor usage and promoting exports. Relevant ministries and sectors are responsible for resolving any issues and difficulties in production and business operations of domestic enterprises within their respective industries and authorities. The Central Enterprise Management Reform Board is responsible for compiling and recommending to the Prime Minister measures to address existing and emerging issues at the 91 State-owned Enterprises regarding mechanisms, policies, and organizational management models.

6. For enterprises that must relocate according to planning, they may transfer the right to use the old production site to obtain capital for constructing a new site where the factory will be relocated.

7. The Prime Minister directs Hanoi City and Ho Chi Minh City to pilot granting land use rights to investors purchasing land use rights from residents for production and business purposes or converting residential land into production sites, in accordance with city planning, without having to pay additional rent to the State and with the right to convert, transfer, lease again, mortgage, and inherit the area during the period of use.

8. Complete and soon promulgate the Government Decree on "Rectifying Inspection and Supervision Work for Enterprises." Relevant ministries and sectors, including the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Justice, the State Inspectorate, and the Ministry of Finance, urgently develop regulations on inspection and supervision of enterprises to implement the aforementioned Decree and publicly announce them for public and enterprise participation in monitoring this work.

III. ON INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

1. Regarding budget funds, the Ministry of Finance shall mobilize all possible sources of revenue as prescribed by law to ensure sufficient funding for investment and development as approved in the budget. Capital investment according to the plan allocated at the beginning of the year for ministries, sectors, and localities shall not be reduced. An additional 1.45 trillion VND shall be supplemented to ensure counterpart funding for projects with ODA capital, some water conservancy projects, and particularly urgent projects.

2. Postpone the construction schedule and delay the commencement of some Group A and B projects (as attached appendix) funded from the centralized budget. As for Group C projects, from now until the end of the year, no new project start-ups recorded in the 1998 plan shall commence. Strictly implement Decision No. 1179/1997/QD-TTg and Directive No. 05/1998/CT-TTg; ensure allocation of at least 70% of capital for Group C projects capable of completion within the year to put these works into operation as soon as possible.

3. Do not continue to invest in new hotel, beer, vertical cement plant, and sugar mill projects if it is determined that they cannot repay debts or require excessively long repayment periods and special conditions; consider postponing the commencement and preparation for commencement of large cement plants domestically invested until at least 2000.

4. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government agencies, and Chairmen of provincial and centrally-administered city People's Committees are responsible for reviewing and reporting to the Prime Minister adjustment plans for the investment structure in accordance with the spirit mentioned above no later than August 15, 1998. Ministries and localities failing to comply with government regulations will not have their capital allocations and payments processed by capital management agencies.

5. Projects and works exceeding the volume assigned in the previous year's plan shall not be allocated additional 1998 plan capital for settlement.

6. Fully implement Vietnam's commitments in each ODA project, ensuring sufficient counterpart funding for programs and projects already planned. Accelerate project development, land clearance, rectify tender examination and selection processes; the Ministry of Finance shall submit to the Government amendments to tax regulations under Decree 87/CP dated August 5, 1997, to resolve tax-related issues concerning ODA capital to increase disbursement rates of committed funds.

7. Allow flexible treatment of the proportion of Vietnamese capital contribution in joint ventures during the initial phase when Vietnamese enterprises have limited capital, and gradually increase the Vietnamese side's capital contribution when conditions permit. End the situation where any entity with land use rights becomes a partner in a joint venture without the necessary management and business conditions; the State shall grant land use rights to enterprises with adequate professional, technical, and cadre conditions to conduct joint ventures with foreign parties. By the end of the third quarter of 1998, the Ministry of Planning and Investment shall submit to the Prime Minister incentives for domestic investors, including state-owned enterprises and other economic sectors, to link up and pool capital for joint ventures with foreign entities, ensuring both advantages and genuine equality for the Vietnamese side in joint ventures. Vietnamese enterprises are not allowed to borrow foreign loans at high interest rates to contribute to joint ventures.

8. In addition to state-owned enterprises, allow other economic sectors to cooperate with foreign investments in industries and fields not prohibited or restricted. Permit Hanoi City and Ho Chi Minh City to pilot projects for foreign investors to lease land to build houses for sale and rental.

9. The People's Committee of provinces and centrally governed cities, the Central and local Industrial Park Management Boards, and Infrastructure Business Enterprises in industrial parks have the responsibility to create favorable conditions for investors currently operating in industrial parks to overcome difficulties, maintain the employment of Vietnamese workers, and promote exports. At the same time, efforts should be focused on investment attraction activities to fill rental areas; for industrial parks that are constructing infrastructure, they must depend on each park’s investment capital sources (100% foreign capital, joint ventures with foreign parties, or borrowing credit funds for investment...), directing and guiding investors to develop infrastructure as they exploit it. Strictly consider granting permits for establishing new industrial parks.

10. Allow foreign-invested enterprises producing export goods facing difficulties in export markets to adjust their domestic consumption ratio for products that Vietnam still needs to import, where there is domestic market demand, or to switch to other types of business.

11. Consider allowing some foreign-invested enterprises (FDI) facing capital shortages, having repayment capacity, and needing capital to borrow from Vietnamese banks. Issue regulations on collateral and mortgage to enable FDI enterprises to borrow from domestic banks; support the sale of foreign currency to foreign-invested enterprises truly struggling due to regional economic crises and reduced export markets.

12. In the third quarter of 1998, the Ministry of Planning and Investment will announce a list of projects calling for direct foreign investment, detailing the scale, capacity, partners, locations, implementation schedules, etc., of these projects to ensure compliance with policies adjusting the investment structure and enhancing the economic and social efficiency of investment projects.

IV. ON EXPORTS AND IMPORTS

1. Continue to implement in a coordinated manner the policies encouraging exports outlined in Government Resolution No. 02/1998/NQ-CP dated January 26, 1998.

2. Simplify administrative procedures to further facilitate exports and the importation of materials, equipment, machinery, raw materials serving production, including goods for export processing. The Ministry of Trade and the General Department of Customs need to strengthen inspections of departments and officials responsible for handling export and import-related procedures.

Establish a temporary working group of the Prime Minister, headed by the Director-General of the General Department of Customs, with members from relevant ministries involved in specialized management of exports and imports. The group has the task of completing by the end of the third quarter of 1998 the review and supplementation, amendment of the system of legal documents related to exports and imports towards enhancing the responsibilities of consignors for the quality of imported goods; eliminating provisions that are no longer appropriate and causing bottlenecks at border gates; ensuring effective state management while creating the most favorable conditions for export and import activities.

3. The Prime Minister directs extending the deadline for paying import duties in the last six months of 1998 to reduce the burden of borrowing for enterprises.

4. The Ministry of Trade and the State Bank of Vietnam, in collaboration with relevant ministries, shall lead the investigation of the possibility of signing agreements on trade and payment at the government level with countries that have significant export potential but have not signed trade agreements and face difficulties in concluding export contracts and payment methods. Along with this process, seek suitable forms of business organization and payment methods to quickly resolve difficulties and expand export markets. On this basis, guide and assist some large enterprises to implement and draw lessons.

Initially, the Ministry of Trade and the State Bank of Vietnam, together with relevant sectors, shall handle payment relationships to quickly expand markets into the CIS and Eastern Europe. The Ministry of Trade, in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, shall urgently develop plans for exporting agricultural products and foodstuffs to Iraq and Middle Eastern countries. Permit the Ministry of Trade to allocate a portion of the fees from the EU textile and garment quota to establish an export incentive fund, encouraging enterprises with large export volumes, new products, or individuals who expand or find new export markets.

5. By the third quarter of 1998, the State Bank of Vietnam will form an "Export Credit Fund" to provide financial assistance to export businesses.

6. The Ministry of Finance will apply additional stamping on certain imported goods that can be produced domestically with good quality.

7. Continue to intensify anti-smuggling and commercial fraud operations.

V. ON FINANCE AND CURRENCY

1. Continue implementing the policies and measures proposed in the Fourth Plenum Resolution (Eighth Congress) to improve the financial and monetary system, ensuring conditions for economic and social growth; controlling inflation and stabilizing macroeconomic conditions; proactively responding to adverse impacts of the regional economic crisis.

2. Ensure the budget revenue plan approved by the National Assembly. Based on legal provisions, localities exceeding the central budget revenue forecast, apart from the current entitlements, will receive additional rewards from the Government to finance their development needs; those failing to meet targets will have corresponding cuts in expenditures. Strengthen revenue management, effectively mobilize revenues with potential over-collection to offset possible reductions. Flexibly and promptly adjust tax rates or surcharges on certain imported goods that can be sufficiently produced domestically or accepted by the market.

3. Maintain the level of budget deficit approved by the National Assembly. Strictly implement the Ordinance and Decree on thrift and anti-waste. Do not use the 10% of regular expenditure retained at the beginning of the year in the 1998 state budget according to the Resolution of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly. Tighten spending discipline in accordance with existing regulations; superiors and leaders must set an example and strengthen supervision over subordinates. At the same time, continue to review and cut unnecessary or non-urgent expenditures in the last six months of 1998. From now until the end of the fiscal year, the Government will not approve additional expenditures outside the budget already approved for ministries, sectors, and localities.

4. Suspend the commencement of construction of office buildings and the purchase of expensive equipment (cars, air conditioners, other facilities...) of Party, State, and political-social organizations for a certain period of time. The construction and upgrading of office buildings in newly separated provinces must be approved by the Prime Minister. Based on the results of asset inspections, administrative and public service agencies and asset allocation systems, resolutely implement the reallocation of equipment and assets from surplus to shortage areas.

5. Urgently assess and review village budget management, immediately rectify weaknesses. Strengthen guidance on implementing policies to mobilize community resources for rural infrastructure construction and public welfare projects based on ensuring appropriate levels of mobilization for each locality, decided by the democratic People's Councils; effectively implement grassroots democracy and financial transparency at the village level and state agencies.

6. Accelerate the development of regulatory documents to implement the Law on the State Bank, the Law on Credit Organizations, and plan their implementation when these laws come into effect (October 1, 1998).

7. Based on adjusted targets, the State Bank shall review its targets, conduct research to supplement and amend monetary policy mechanisms and policies to promote capital mobilization for increased lending to support production and business development; continue to implement policies to reorganize and improve the operations of commercial banks; strictly direct and flexibly apply monetary and foreign exchange regulation tools to control inflation, strictly enforce foreign debt management regulations, maintain international balance of payments, effectively handle overdue debts and reduce overdue loans. It is necessary to urgently complete and issue the Decree on foreign borrowing and repayment in the fourth quarter of 1998.

8. In 1998, strive to maintain inflation below two digits.

VI. ON SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Urgently complete and implement the program to address employment issues and support redundant labor from enterprises facing difficulties in production, including those with foreign investment, and returning overseas workers. Encourage businesses and workers to expand production, services, create more jobs, stabilize labor, and reduce unemployment.

2. The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs shall guide provincial People's Committees to study, summarize, and implement programs to support redundant labor during the restructuring and shareholding reform of state-owned enterprises, especially large cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

3. Immediately implement the plan to carry out economic and social development programs in 1,700 particularly difficult communes with appropriate steps and methods.

4. Conduct a mid-term review of the implementation of Directive 660-TTg of the Prime Minister dated October 17, 1995 on addressing the issue of spontaneous migration, prepare new regulations to fundamentally resolve the problem of "spontaneous migration."

5. Continue to implement Government Decrees and other regulations on drug prevention, prostitution, harmful publications; ensure traffic safety and civilized living habits. Prepare a comprehensive proposal on combating social evils.

6. Urgently complete proposals to implement the policy of socializing health care, education and training, culture, and sports sectors.

VII. DIRECTIVE AND MANAGEMENT OF PLAN IMPLEMENTATION

1. To promptly identify and address emerging issues in directive and management activities at various levels and sectors, the Government proposes to adopt the form of "regular meetings" with practical content for specific work groups and regions, aiming to enhance the effectiveness of directive and management of economic and social plans in the near future, specifically:

- Industrial production meeting prepared by the Ministry of Industry;

- Agricultural production and water conservancy meeting prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

- Investment meeting prepared by the Ministry of Planning and Investment;

- Import and export meeting prepared by the Ministry of Trade;

- Financial and monetary meeting prepared by the Ministry of Finance and the State Bank;

- Employment meeting prepared by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs;

- Social evil prevention meeting prepared by the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs;

- Petition resolution meeting prepared by the State Inspectorate. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, and local people's committees need to properly address difficulties and create conditions for the development of private sector economic activities. In these meetings, reports must include the situation of non-state economic components.

3. In the third quarter of 1998, the Government's legislative work will focus on several key areas such as import and export procedures; land; investment; money and credit; taxes; establishment of enterprises; restructuring and shareholding reform of state-owned enterprises.

4. Pursuant to the conclusion of the Politburo No. 147-TB/TW dated June 27, 1998 on the current economic and social situation and major solutions, it is necessary to urgently prepare the following special topics for submission to the Politburo in the near future:

- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall take the lead and coordinate with the General Department of Land Administration and related sectors to prepare a topic on agricultural development and rural economy, including land issues and farm development.

- The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall take the lead and coordinate with related sectors to prepare a topic on production relations and income distribution.

- The Central Enterprise Reform Board shall prepare a topic on enterprise reform and restructuring, including shareholding.

- The Ministry of Industry shall prepare a topic on the strategy for developing certain basic industries.

Ministries and sectors shall submit specific tasks under their jurisdiction to the Prime Minister for decision in order to implement this Resolution.

ANNEX

LIST OF PROJECTS GROUP A AND B WITH STATE BUDGET FUNDS THAT NEED TO BE DELAYED AND POSTPONED

I. PROJECTS IN GROUP A:

1. Lang - Hoa Lac Road: Delay construction progress, do not set the goal of completion in 1998, only implement according to the borrowing capacity of the Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank, without budget funding, gradually repay borrowed funds starting from 2000.

2. Crossroad A: Recalculate to reduce allocated capital, consider progress after signing foreign loans and project approval.

3. North-South Expressway: Capital has been recorded for project preparation, due to capital difficulties, the start date will be postponed (the previous target was to start before 2000).

4. Yazun Lower Reservoir: By 1997, 75% of total capital had been implemented, with an irrigation capacity of 13,500 hectares; currently, the main structures and canals capable of irrigating 3,500 hectares have been completed. The remaining investment for canal construction is approximately 140 billion dong. Construction will proceed based on exploitation capacity, without setting the goal of completing all canals and ditches in 1999 or 2000.

II. PROJECTS IN GROUP B:

1. Route 14B, need to delay the construction progress from Hoa Nha Bridge to Thanh My.

2. Cu Lo Port, total estimated cost 139 billion dong, by the end of 1997, 3 billion dong had been invested, the 1998 plan recorded 4 billion dong. Need to postpone the construction of the bridge over to the opposite bank.

3. Qui Nhon Port, total estimated cost 107 billion dong, recorded 1 billion dong in the plan, postpone the start of warehouse construction.

4. Da Nang Airport (Defense), total estimated cost undetermined, recorded 4 billion dong in the plan for preparatory work, postpone the start.

5. Branch Road System WB2, recorded 20 billion dong in the plan, postpone the start (foreign capital in 1998 is not available).

6. Coastal Reclamation Project Bin Minh 3 (Defense), total estimated cost 35 billion dong, a new start project. Recorded 3 billion dong in the 1998 plan, postpone the start.

7. Thai Binh Provincial Political School, total capital 8.4 billion dong, 2 billion dong had been implemented, recorded 1.9 billion dong in the 1998 plan, delay progress.

8. Long An Provincial Political School, total capital 8.6 billion dong, 3.4 billion dong had been implemented, recorded 15 billion dong in the 1998 plan, delay progress.

9. Ho Chi Minh City Theater, total capital 25.2 billion dong, 5 billion dong had been implemented, recorded 15 billion dong in the 1998 plan, delay progress.

10. Cultural Center Performance Hall Can Tho Province, total capital 9.6 billion dong, 1.5 billion dong had been implemented, recorded 1.5 billion dong in the 1998 plan, delay progress.

11. Quang Nam Provincial Cultural Center, prepared in 1997, not yet implemented, recorded 1 billion dong in the 1998 plan, postpone construction.

12. Ben Due Commemorative Shrine, total investment 31 billion dong, 12.5 billion dong had been implemented, recorded 10 billion dong in the 1998 plan, delay progress.

In addition, projects that are deemed not to have urgent actual needs will be considered for postponement of commencement to concentrate capital for other works:

1. National Academy of Public Administration Classroom Building, total estimated cost 26 billion dong, recorded 1.5 billion dong in the plan.

2. Water Resources University Experimental Zone, total estimated cost 20 billion dong, recorded 1.5 billion dong in the plan.

3. Management Center (Ho Chi Minh City National University), recorded 6.9 billion dong in the plan.

4. Marine Secondary School, total estimated cost 10 billion dong, recorded 0.5 billion dong in the plan.

5. Music and Dance Theater, recorded 2 billion dong in the plan for preparation but lacking conditions for implementation.

6. Hue Television Station, total estimated cost 49 billion dong, completed 0.5 billion dong by the end of 1997, recorded 4 billion dong in the plan.

7. Banking Information Data Center, lacking procedures, recorded 0.3 billion dong in the plan for preparatory work.

8. Ha Nam Provincial Political School, total estimated cost 14 billion dong, recorded 3 billion dong in the plan.

9. Gia Lam Sports and Exercise Hall (Hanoi), recorded 3 billion dong in the plan.

10. Elephant Mountain Relic (Haiphong), recorded 2 billion dong in the plan.

11. Lam Dong Provincial Party Committee Office Building, recorded 2.5 billion dong in the plan.