Directive No. 154/TTg On addressing urgent issues to increase revenue and reduce expenditure, combat corruption and smuggling

DIRECTIVE

OF THE PRIME MINISTER

Regarding the resolution of urgent issues

to increase revenue and reduce expenditure from the state budget, combat corruption and smuggling

At the end-of-March session in 1994, while affirming that the socio-economic situation in the first quarter of this year continues to improve, the Government emphasized and analyzed clearly the weaknesses that need to be addressed. One of the most significant weaknesses is the extremely strained state budget balance, with a very low rate of capital mobilization within the national economy, enterprises severely lacking in capital, while wastefulness, bribery, harassment, corruption, and smuggling remain severe. To ensure the successful implementation of the state plan for 1994, the Prime Minister requests all sectors, levels, and entities to focus on addressing these weaknesses, and immediately resolve the following urgent issues:

1. Ministers, Heads of agencies equivalent to ministries, and heads of government agencies with functions to manage state affairs related to production and circulation of goods:

- Must work closely with Chairpersons of People's Committees at provincial and municipal levels to strengthen guidance, inspection, and create conditions for enterprises to develop strong production, expand circulation, reduce product costs and circulation expenses, thereby generating revenue for the state budget.

- Must rectify their support staff, monitor strictly and grasp the production and circulation situation of subordinate enterprises; Work together with the Ministry of Finance to immediately rectify financial and accounting operations according to the law and thoroughly save to maximize revenue for the state budget. All other ministries and sectors with production and business enterprises must strictly implement this regulation.

2. The Ministry of Finance and the General Customs Department must rigorously direct the collection of taxes and fees according to the law and current regulations for all production and business establishments, especially those with large sources of income (beer, wine, tobacco, cement, oil, steel, etc.) belonging to various economic components; Strictly control the inclusion of these revenues into the state budget and their proper use. It is necessary to strengthen financial inspection and auditing, and resolutely handle any arbitrary financial transactions outside the central regulations.

3. The Ministry of Finance is responsible for leading and guiding, in collaboration with relevant sectors, the immediate collection of land tax, granting of land use rights, transfer of land use rights, and transfer or sale of other state assets into the State Treasury, managing and using these revenues according to current regulations. In the short term, the Ministry of Finance will organize a department to monitor and inspect sectors and localities' compliance with financial regulations in leasing land, granting land use rights, transferring land use rights, and transferring or selling other state assets. Any violations discovered must be resolutely dealt with under existing financial sanctions and reported to the Prime Minister.

4. Heads of ministries, sectors, and Chairpersons of People's Committees at local levels must personally direct the thorough implementation of savings according to the Resolution of the National Assembly.

Each ministry, sector, and locality must have specific savings plans to submit to the Prime Minister and register with the Ministry of Finance. If new needs arise, then the head of the ministry, sector, or locality must arrange within the already balanced state budget by requesting permission to change spending targets. The Ministry of Finance will work specifically with each ministry, sector, and locality, compile the total amount of registered savings, and take measures to manage the use of these saved funds.

5. The Ministry of Finance and the State Bank shall cooperate to immediately establish the state treasury bill market and other forms of capital mobilization to meet the capital needs of the state and enterprises.

6. Each ministry, sector, and locality, particularly those agencies frequently dealing with the public, enterprises, and foreigners, must review procedures for handling matters, rectify them towards simplification, and combat harassment, corruption, and smuggling within their jurisdiction. Heads of agencies must personally examine incidents and resolutely handle them according to the law and their prescribed authority, without evasion.

Ensuring state budget management and financial revenue and expenditure primarily falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance, and also under the responsibility of other ministries, sectors, localities, and entities. Combating smuggling and other illegal business activities primarily falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of Commerce, and also under the responsibility of other ministries, sectors, and localities along with entities.

These are critical and urgent tasks, requiring all ministries, sectors, localities, and entities to strictly comply. Mass media organizations must directly carry out the tasks outlined in this Directive and effectively explain and motivate cadres and the public to implement and supervise the implementation thereof./.