Decision No. 186/2004/QD-TTg stipulates the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the National Center for Economic and Social Information and Forecasting.

Article 1. Name Change, Position, and Function

1. The name of the National Center for Economic and Social Information under the Ministry of Planning and Investment shall be changed to the National Center for Economic and Social Information and Forecasting.

2. The National Center for Economic and Social Information and Forecasting is a national-level center under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, with the function of collecting information, analyzing, and forecasting domestic and international economic and social trends, providing information to serve policy planning and state management of economic and social affairs; organizing scientific research in the field of economic and social information and forecasting; organizing the provision of economic and social information services to organizations and citizens.

3. The National Center for Economic and Social Information and Forecasting is a scientific public service unit with legal personality, its own seal and separate account, operating independently in accordance with the provisions of the law.

b) Draft five-year and annual socio-economic development plans for the province; major economic and social balances for the province; draft five-year and annual plans, programs, projects, measures to organize and implement tasks related to socio-economic development, finance-budget, planning-investment, and other tasks within the scope of state management of the Department of Finance as prescribed by law;

The National Center for Economic and Social Information and Forecasting has the following specific tasks and powers:

1. Building an information system to serve state management of economic and social affairs;

2. Organizing research, analysis, and forecasting of economic and social trends to serve policy planning and state management of economic and social affairs;

3. Organizing the construction of a national database on economic and social matters to serve macroeconomic management and control by the Government;

4. Organizing the provision of information on the results of economic and social trend analysis and forecasts domestically and relevant international information to serve the work of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, related ministries, sectors, and localities in developing sectoral and area strategies and plans;

5. Providing domestic and international reference information to serve management and control; periodic and non-periodic economic and social policy planning for leadership levels;

6. Organizing surveys, collection, synthesis, and impact analysis of economic and social policies of the Party and State to serve leadership and management;

7. Serving as the coordinating point for economic and social information activities, including: receiving and disseminating economic and social information from information and forecasting agencies and data centers of ministries, sectors, and localities;

8. Providing economic and social information and forecasting publications in various forms such as magazines, books, periodicals regularly and irregularly to serve societal entities; organizing advisory and information service forms for organizations and individuals;

9. Organizing international cooperation on issues related to building and developing the national economic and social information and forecasting system;

10. Organizing training and professional development in economic and social information and forecasting within the planning and investment sector, participating in training in the field of information science and economic and social forecasting;

11. Managing organizational structure, officials, civil servants, employees, and workers; managing finances, assets, and allocated funds according to the provisions of the law and the delegation of authority by the Minister of Planning and Investment;

12. Performing other tasks assigned by the Minister of Planning and Investment.

Article 3. Organizational structure of the Center

a) Organizations assisting the Center Director in performing functions and tasks:

1. Information Source and Development Department;

2. Consolidation Department;

3. Macro Analysis and Forecasting Department;

4. Business and Market Information Department;

5. Research and Information Technology Application Development Department;

6. International Cooperation and Training Department;

7. Representative Branch in Ho Chi Minh City;

8. Center Office.

b) Center Leadership

The National Economic and Social Information and Forecasting Center has a Director and Deputy Directors.

The Director of the National Economic and Social Information and Forecasting Center is appointed and relieved from duty by the Prime Minister upon the proposal of the Minister of Planning and Investment and is responsible to the Minister of Planning and Investment for all activities of the Center.

Deputy Directors of the National Economic and Social Information and Forecasting Center are appointed and relieved from duty by the Minister of Planning and Investment upon the proposal of the Director of the National Economic and Social Information and Forecasting Center and are responsible to the Director for the assigned areas of work.

Article 4. Effective date

This Decision takes effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

Article 5. Responsibilities for Implementation

Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government-affiliated agencies, Chairpersons of provincial people's committees under central cities, and the Director of the National Economic and Social Information and Forecasting Center are responsible for implementing this Decision.