Directive No. 32/1999/CT-TTg On improving the content, methods, enhancing efficiency, and thoroughly practicing thrift in organizing meetings and conferences

DIRECTIVE

On improving the content, methods, and enhancing effectiveness,

thoroughly practicing thrift in organizing meetings and conferences

Practicing thrift, combating waste, and administrative reform to enhance the efficiency of state administrative operations from central to local levels is a correct policy of the Party and State that has been widely supported by all social strata.

In recent times, many ministries, sectors, and localities have made efforts to reform administrative procedures, reduce burdens on the people, manage expenditures more strictly, and save more. However, the work of practicing thrift and reforming meeting and conference practices still has many shortcomings. Sectoral conferences at both central and local levels are too numerous, overly formalistic, lacking in substance, slow to improve, heavily focused on dissemination rather than exchange and discussion, with excessive participation leading to low results; many contents that could be directed, communicated, and coordinated through written documents are still organized as full-sector or inter-sector conferences, wasting much time and money, and creating unfavorable public opinion about the sense of responsibility of various levels and sectors in practicing thrift and combating waste. To address these issues, the Prime Minister issues the following directive:

1. Heads of ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, government agencies, Chairpersons of provincial and centrally-administered city People's Committees must directly oversee the review of plans and measures for practicing thrift and combating waste in the use of funds for conferences within their units and localities, implement strict monitoring to ensure all expenditures comply with established regulations and standards.

2. Significantly improve the method of conveying and disseminating the Party and State's policies, directives from superiors to subordinates, and summarizing and disseminating experiences and exemplary models throughout the sector and locality towards: upper-level agencies (ministries, sectors, provinces, cities...) prepare thoroughly and adequately all reporting documents and draft policies to send to subordinates for study, implementation, and feedback; simultaneously, designate personnel to follow up and guide subordinates in implementing tasks; incorporate feedback from subordinates to adjust, supplement, and perfect draft documents (if necessary) to ensure appropriateness.

3. Alongside the above improvements, henceforth, do not convene full-sector conferences to review quarterly, semi-annual, and annual work. If a ministry or sector deems it absolutely necessary to organize specialized conferences to implement new policies or disseminate deep experiences in a critical field, they must only do so after thorough preparation of the content; the number of participants must be strictly limited to those directly related to the specialized topic. Ministers of ministries, Chairpersons of provincial and centrally-administered city People's Committees, and heads of agencies are responsible for the content, results, and thrift in organizing specialized conferences.

4. Professional training for vertical sectors should primarily be conducted through exchanges and studying materials. If a training class is necessary, the head of the sector must carefully consider its necessity and effectiveness. Only after thorough preparation regarding content, format, participant composition, budget, location, and timing can training be organized. The content and participants in training must be concise and practical, ensuring the desired outcomes. Strictly prohibit using specialized conferences or training sessions to collect fees from attendees beyond prescribed regulations or to combine with sightseeing or vacation activities.

5. Commemorative ceremonies marking establishment days, traditional days of agencies, units, and sectors, and the organization of events to receive national commendations and awards may only be held internally within the agency or unit, not at the sector level. The number of participants in such ceremonies must be strictly limited; no representatives from central or local agencies should be invited, and no public funds should be used for receptions or gift-giving to representatives.

6. Do not use state budget funds or state credit to organize groundbreaking, inauguration, or completion ceremonies for projects. Such ceremonies should only be held within a narrow scope involving directly related parties or units, without inviting unrelated parties or representatives from Party and State agencies. For significant state projects with special domestic and international importance, requiring groundbreaking or completion ceremonies, the Prime Minister will issue separate decisions.

7. Financial agencies at all levels shall cooperate with relevant agencies at central and local levels to monitor expenditures for meetings and conferences according to this Directive; promptly identify and report to competent authorities for strict handling of any violations.

Mass media organizations shall publicize the content of this Directive to enable the public to understand and participate in supervising its implementation; promptly reflect and praise agencies and units that strictly adhere to the Directive, while criticizing those that do not.

8. Each year, ministries, sectors, localities, and organizations using state budget funds shall report on the results of implementing the thrift policy in organizing meetings and conferences within their respective ministries, sectors, localities, and agencies to the Ministry of Finance for consolidation and reporting to the Prime Minister.

Heads of ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, government agencies, Chairpersons of provincial and centrally-administered city People's Committees, and organizations using state budget funds are responsible for directing and strictly implementing this Directive.

PRIME MINISTER 

(Signed)

Phan Van Khai