Circular No. 37/2025/TT-BCT guides the functions, duties, and authorities of specialized agencies under the People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities and communes, wards, and special administrative-economic zones within provinces in the field of industry and trade.

CIRCULAR
Guidelines on the functions, tasks, and powers of specialized agencies

under the provincial People's Committees and the municipal People's Committees directly under the Central Government

and the People's Committees of communes, wards, and special administrative-economic zones 

under the provincial and municipal People's Committees directly under the Central Government

Pursuant to Decree No. 40/2025/NĐ-CP dated February 26, 2025 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Industry and Trade;

Pursuant to Decree No. 150/2025/NĐ-CP dated June 12, 2025 of the Government stipulating the organization of specialized agencies under the provincial and municipal People's Committees directly under the Central Government and the People's Committees of communes, wards, and special administrative-economic zones under the provincial and municipal People's Committees directly under the Central Government;

At the proposal of the Director of the Cadre and Civil Servant Department,

The Minister of Industry and Trade issues this Circular guiding the functions, tasks, and powers of specialized agencies under the provincial and municipal People's Committees directly under the Central Government and the People's Committees of communes, wards, and special administrative-economic zones under the provincial and municipal People's Committees directly under the Central Government.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular guides the functions, tasks, and powers of specialized agencies under the provincial and municipal People's Committees directly under the Central Government (hereinafter referred to collectively as provincial level) and the People's Committees of communes, wards, and special administrative-economic zones under the provincial and municipal People's Committees directly under the Central Government (hereinafter referred to collectively as commune level).

Article 2. Applicability

1. Specialized agency under the provincial People's Committee for industry and trade (hereinafter referred to as the Department of Industry and Trade).

2. Specialized agency under the commune People's Committee for industry and trade (Economic Office (for communes and special administrative-economic zones) or Economic, Infrastructure, and Urban Development Office (for wards and the special administrative-economic zone of Phu Quoc)).

3. Relevant agencies and organizations.

Chapter II

DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE

Article 3. Position and Functions

1. The Department of Industry and Trade is a specialized agency under the provincial People's Committee; it advises and assists the provincial People's Committee in performing state management functions in the field of industry and trade, including mechanical engineering; metallurgy; electricity; new energy; renewable energy; efficient and economical energy use; oil and gas; chemicals; industrial explosives; mining and mineral processing industries (excluding common building materials and cement production); consumer goods industry; food industry; supporting industry; other processing industries; small-scale handicraft industry; promoting small-scale industry; commercial activities and commodity circulation within its jurisdiction; sustainable production and consumption; export and import; market management; border trade (for provinces with borders); logistics services; trade promotion; e-commerce; commercial services; competition management; protection of consumer rights and management of multi-level marketing business activities; anti-dumping; international economic integration; industrial clusters within its jurisdiction.

2. The Department of Industry and Trade has legal personality, its own seal and bank account; it is subject to the direction and management of the provincial People's Committee, while also being subject to the direction, inspection, and guidance on professional matters from the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Article 4. Tasks and Powers

1. Perform the tasks and powers as prescribed in Article 4 of Decree No. 150/2025/NĐ-CP stipulating the organization of specialized agencies under the provincial and municipal People's Committees directly under the Central Government and the People's Committees of communes, wards, and special administrative-economic zones under the provincial and municipal People's Committees directly under the Central Government.

2. Be responsible for organizing the implementation of state management according to the position and function specified in Clause 1, Article 3 of this Circular and according to the delegation and decentralization in the fields of industry and trade as follows:

a) Regarding energy including: electricity, coal, oil and gas, new energy, renewable energy, and other forms of energy;

b) Regarding chemicals and industrial explosives;

c) Regarding heavy and light industries; food safety;

d) Regarding promoting small-scale industry, industrial clusters, and small-scale handicraft industry;

đ) Regarding industrial technical safety; environmental protection in the industry and trade sector;

e) Implement tasks related to state management of construction investment projects within the scope of construction management as prescribed by laws on construction;

g) Regarding domestic trade and markets; market management;

h) Regarding export and import of goods; logistics services;

i) Regarding anti-dumping;

k) Regarding e-commerce and digital economy;

l) Regarding competition management and protection of consumer rights, management of multi-level marketing business activities;

m) Perform state management functions regarding prices in the fields and scope of management as prescribed by laws;

n) Regarding trade promotion;

o) Regarding international economic integration; developing foreign markets, regional cooperation, and bilateral cooperation;

p) Implement state management over the activities of foreign service providers and foreign investors' presence and business operations in Vietnam in the fields of industry and trade, as prescribed by laws;

q) Issue, reissue, amend, supplement, adjust, revoke, and extend various types of licenses, certificates, and other forms of documents as prescribed by laws within the scope of state management in the fields of industry and trade;

r) Implement quality management of industrial construction projects within the scope of state management as prescribed by laws;

s) Implement international cooperation in the fields of industry and trade; implement industrial and trade cooperation activities with international organizations; establish partnerships with multinational companies; receive and organize the management and coordination of foreign ODA and technical assistance in the fields of trade and industry as prescribed by laws;

t) Regarding science, technology, and innovation; green transition, efficient and economical energy use, sustainable development, sustainable production and consumption, climate change response in the industry and trade sector;

u) Regarding public services;

v) Take the lead in resolving investment disputes arising based on contracts, agreements, and commitments with foreign investors negotiated, signed, or represented by the Department of Industry and Trade on behalf of the State and the Government of Vietnam.

x) Implement state management tasks regarding statistics for the Industry and Trade sector, including statistical analysis and forecasting; collect and compile information on national statistical indicators as prescribed by the Statistics Law; implement national statistical survey programs within the responsibility of the Ministry of Industry and Trade as stipulated by the Statistics Law and decisions of the Prime Minister; develop industry and trade statistical survey programs and organize their implementation.

y) Take the lead and coordinate with relevant sectors to organize the development of plans for the exploitation and utilization of Group I minerals in provincial planning, and implement mineral resource planning after approval by competent authorities.

Chapter III

INDUSTRY AND TRADE SPECIALIZED AGENCY

BELONGING TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE OF A COMMUNE

Article 5. Position and Functions

1. The Economic Department or the Economic, Infrastructure, and Urban Planning Department is a specialized agency under the People's Committee of a commune, advising and assisting the People's Committee of a commune in performing state management functions over industry and trade at the local level (for other fields under the Economic Department or the Economic, Infrastructure, and Urban Planning Department, guidance shall be provided by the corresponding ministry).

2. The Economic Department or the Economic, Infrastructure, and Urban Planning Department is subject to the direction and management of the organizational structure, job positions, civil servant quotas, civil service grade structures, number of staff, and professional career structure in public service units by the People's Committee of a commune, while also being subject to professional and technical direction and guidance from the Department of Industry and Trade.

Article 6. Tasks and Powers

1. Submit to the People's Committee of a commune: Draft resolutions of the People's Council of a commune (if applicable), draft decisions of the People's Committee of a commune related to the industry and trade sector within the scope of management of the department; programs and measures to organize the implementation of administrative reform tasks in the industry and trade sector.

2. Submit to the Chairman of the People's Committee of a commune: draft decisions and other documents within the authority of the Chairman of the People's Committee of a commune as assigned.

3. Assist the People's Committee of a commune in organizing, guiding, and implementing policies to encourage collective economic organizations and private enterprises to invest in developing industry and commerce, expanding production and business operations, and facilitating commodity circulation in the locality; organize consulting activities for technology transfer, information provision, trade promotion, and human resource training for production and business establishments under the managed sector; implement trade promotion programs and plans, brand building, and development according to the assignments of authorized levels.

4. Advise and assist the People's Committee of a commune in implementing state management over industrial clusters in the locality as prescribed by the Government on cluster management and development and related laws.

Advise and assist the People's Committee of a commune in organizing the implementation of tasks to support the development of small and medium-sized enterprises in the industrial sector; organize the implementation of activities to develop small-scale industries and craft villages in the locality as prescribed by law.

5. Lead and advise the People's Committee of a commune on building and submitting for issuance a plan for promoting industry that complies with legal regulations and local conditions; advise the competent authority to ensure funding from the local budget for organizing promotional activities for industry in the locality.

6. Advise and assist the People's Committee of a commune in implementing state management over consumer rights protection as prescribed by law.

7. Advise the People's Committee of a commune on implementing state management over chemicals, industrial explosives, food safety as prescribed by law and according to the division of responsibilities, delegation, or authorization of competent authorities.

8. Assist the People's Committee of a commune in implementing and bearing responsibility for reviewing and approving operation procedures for hydropower reservoirs in one commune, emergency response plans for hydropower projects in one commune, dam and reservoir protection plans for hydropower projects in one commune, and the authority of specialized agencies as prescribed by law and according to the division of responsibilities, delegation, or authorization of the People's Committee of a commune.

9. Publicize regulations on electricity prices for students and tenants; conduct regular inspections, supervision, and reporting on the implementation of retail electricity prices at rental housing locations under management according to regulations and handle violations according to legal provisions.

10. Organize the implementation of legal documents, plans, and programs after approval; provide information, publicity, dissemination, and education on laws concerning industry and trade; monitor the enforcement of laws on industry and trade.

11. Assist the People's Committee of a commune in implementing and bearing responsibility for reviewing and registering various types of licenses within the scope of responsibility and authority of specialized agencies as prescribed by law and according to the division of responsibilities, delegation, or authorization of the People's Committee of a commune.

12. Assist the People's Committee of a commune in managing state affairs over collective economic organizations, private enterprises, associations, and non-governmental organizations operating in the industry and trade sector as prescribed by law.

13. Organize the application of scientific and technological advancements; build information systems and archives to serve management and professional work of the Economic Department or the Economic, Infrastructure, and Urban Planning Department.

14. Implement information and regular and extraordinary reports on the implementation of assigned tasks according to the regulations of the People's Committee of a commune and the Department of Industry and Trade.

15. Monitor and inspect organizations and individuals in the implementation of laws on industry and trade; receive citizens, resolve complaints and denunciations; prevent and combat corruption and waste according to legal provisions and assignments of the People's Committee of a commune.

16. Manage the organizational structure, job positions, civil servant quotas, rank structures, implement salary systems, policies, incentive systems, rewards, disciplinary measures, and professional training for civil servants within the scope of management as prescribed by law and assigned by the People's Committee of the commune.

17. Manage and be responsible for finances and assets allocated according to the provisions of law and the delegated management level of the People's Committee of the commune; assist the People's Committee of the commune in managing market infrastructure assets as prescribed by law.

18. Perform other duties and exercise other powers as delegated, authorized, or defined by competent authorities according to the provisions of law.

19. Carry out other tasks assigned by the People's Committee of the commune and as prescribed by law.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 7. Effective Date

Article 32. Responsibilities of Agencies

2. This Circular replaces Circular No. 04/2022/TT-BCT dated January 28, 2022, issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade guiding the functions, responsibilities, and powers of specialized agencies under the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities and districts, urban districts, towns, and provincial-level cities, and Circular No. 15/2023/TT-BCT dated June 30, 2023, amending and supplementing some circulars of the Minister of Industry and Trade guiding the functions, responsibilities, and powers of Departments of Industry and Trade.

Article 8. Responsibility for Implementation

1. The Provincial People's Committee and the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; the Commune People's Committee and the Chairman of the Commune People's Committee shall be responsible for directing and organizing the implementation of this Circular.

2. During the implementation of this Circular, if there are any difficulties or need for supplementation or amendment, the Provincial People's Committee, the Department of Industry and Trade, and related organizations and individuals are requested to report to the Ministry of Industry and Trade for consideration and resolution within their authority.