Directive No. 723/CT-TTg on the development plan for economic and social progress and state budget estimate for 2009

DIRECTIVE

On the development plan for economic and social progress and

state budget estimate for 2009

______________

Implementing the Resolution of the National Assembly on the plan for economic and social development and the state budget estimate for 2008, all sectors, levels, and business areas have made efforts to overcome difficulties, promote production development, while focusing on urgent tasks to control inflation, stabilize macroeconomic conditions, ensure social welfare, and maintain sustainable development.

The tasks assigned for the remaining months of 2008 and 2009 are very arduous, especially given the ongoing global economic downturn, continued high prices for crude oil, foodstuffs, and many other key materials in the world market, frequent outbreaks of diseases and natural disasters... domestically, the economy shows signs of slowing down, macroeconomic balances remain unstable, prices continue to rise sharply, people's livelihoods face numerous difficulties...

To overcome these difficulties and obstacles, contributing to the successful implementation of the Resolution of the 10th Party Congress and the National Assembly's Resolution on the five-year plan for economic and social development from 2006 to 2010, the Prime Minister requests that all Ministries, agencies at the level of ministries, government agencies, provinces, centrally governed cities, state economic groups, and state corporations implement the development plan for economic and social progress and the state budget estimate for 2009 with the following main contents:

A. MAJOR TASKS OF THE 2009 PLAN

I. TASKS FOR ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT

The task for 2009 must continue to focus on implementing the goal of controlling inflation, ensuring macroeconomic stability, social welfare, and sustainable growth.

1. Regarding the economy

a) All sectors, levels, and businesses must continue to implement comprehensive measures to boost production, services, and investment attraction. It is expected that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2009 will aim to increase by 7% - 7.5%. Continue to accelerate the restructuring of the economic structure and labor structure towards increasing the proportion of services and industry.

Create significant changes, enhance competitiveness and efficiency in industrial production. Implement policies to encourage technological innovation, improve quality, reduce production costs, lower product prices, particularly essential goods and export items.

Ensure stable and sustainable growth rates for the entire agricultural, forestry, and fisheries sector. Increase investment in agricultural production and rural development to ensure sufficient food for domestic consumption and additional quantities for export. Implement measures to prevent widespread outbreaks of plant and animal diseases; ensure adequate seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides for crops, especially rice, aiming for higher rice yields and production volumes compared to 2008. Promote the production of cash crops linked to raw material regions and processing industries, especially those products with high market demand both domestically and internationally.

Develop livestock farming efficiently, sustainably, and safely. Ensure breeding stock, feed, technology, and other necessary conditions to restore and rapidly develop the livestock industry. Focus on rational exploitation of marine resources, promoting aquaculture, processing, and seafood exports.

Develop service industries with potential and high added value; strengthen tourism; improve and enhance the quality of transportation to ensure commodity circulation and meet the travel needs of the population.

Continue to review and amend administrative regulations and procedures to further facilitate individuals and businesses, primarily those concerning business establishment, investment, loans, disbursement; tax, customs, land access, foreign currency transactions, inspection, and supervision.

b) Implement measures to boost exports and effectively control imports to reduce the trade deficit. Remove obstacles related to exports to reduce costs and enhance the competitiveness of Vietnamese export goods.

c) Continue to implement measures to control inflation. Ensure balance between supply and demand for goods, particularly inputs for production and essential consumer goods. Strengthen market regulation. Establish and develop distribution networks to ensure reasonable supply of goods, especially essential consumer goods and in economically disadvantaged areas.

Control the supply and pricing of monopoly goods and services.

d) Maximize and use resources effectively. Disburse investment development funds quickly, especially projects for essential socio-economic infrastructure construction, important transport projects in regions with large cargo capacities and high transportation connectivity to alleviate bottlenecks and enhance commodity circulation capabilities, projects investing in high-tech products with large export values. Concentrate capital on national key projects and projects capable of being put into use in 2009.

Continue to improve investment and construction management. Use ODA funds effectively and accelerate disbursement; attract more and disburse foreign direct investment (FDI) funds faster; strengthen auditing to effectively prevent corruption and waste, ensuring project quality. Proactively respond to unusual fluctuations in the capital market.

đ) Continue to intensify the reorganization and modernization of state-owned enterprises, and the shareholding reform of state-owned corporations and large-scale enterprises not belonging to fields where the State must hold 100% equity.

2. Tasks for scientific and technological development, education and training, human resource development, ensuring social welfare, and other areas.

a) Enhance domestic scientific and technological capacity alongside strengthening the absorption, mastery, and application of advanced global scientific and technological achievements in various aspects of social life. Promote socialization in scientific and technological activities towards supporting the development of the science and technology market.

b) Further reform the fields of education, training, healthcare, culture, while effectively implementing policies to encourage socialization in these areas. Encourage and create conditions for the private sector to invest in education, healthcare, culture, sports...

Reform state management, expand autonomy and self-responsibility for cultural, healthcare, and educational public institutions; gradually improve the quality of social services.

c) Focus on rapidly developing human resources to meet development requirements, especially high-quality human resources to attract high-tech investment projects with significant added value. Continue to implement policies allowing disadvantaged students and vocational learners to obtain preferential loans for their studies.

d) Effectively implement social welfare policies to provide substantial support to social policy beneficiaries, the poor, and those in difficult circumstances during the development process. Continue to promote the implementation of national target programs; programs, projects, and social welfare solutions already issued to support production development and stabilize the lives of the poor, impoverished regions, ethnic minorities in difficult situations, and disaster-stricken areas.

Implement sustainable poverty reduction, ensuring that the poor can reasonably benefit from economic growth. Reduce contributions from farmers. Ensure a better life for citizens when the state reclaims land.

đ) Consistently and effectively implement measures to prevent and control diseases, proactively respond to diseases affecting people.

Proactively prevent and combat natural disasters, promptly organize search and rescue operations, minimize losses in terms of human life and property caused by natural disasters.

e) Effectively address pressing social issues, particularly crime, drug abuse, traffic accidents, and traffic congestion in large cities.

3. Tasks related to environmental protection

a) Reduce environmental pollution, restore and improve environmental quality; fundamentally resolve environmental degradation in industrial zones, densely populated residential areas, and around factories; remediate and treat heavily polluted rivers, lakes, ponds, canals.

Enhance the ability to prevent and limit the negative impacts of natural disasters and adverse climate changes on the environment; promptly respond to and mitigate the aftermath caused by natural disasters.

b) Use natural resources and the environment in river basins rationally, efficiently, and sustainably, ensuring ecological balance, nature conservation, and biodiversity preservation. Strengthen propaganda, education, training, and capacity building to raise awareness about the environment, viewing environmental protection as the responsibility of the entire society.

c) Meet international commitments to environmental protection, limit the negative impacts of globalization on the domestic environment to promote economic growth and improve the quality of life for citizens.

4. Vigorously advance administrative reform, practice thrift, and combat waste.

Administrative reform in the future must aim at building an administrative system serving the people, clean, democratic, effective, and efficient; the cadre and civil servant corps must have qualities and capabilities to meet the requirements of national development and protection.

a) Vigorously implement the overall administrative reform program and the Government's action program to implement the Resolution of the Fifth Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the 10th term on accelerating administrative reform, enhancing the effectiveness of state management. Implement the chief executive system in administrative agencies; clearly define the responsibilities of heads and leadership collectives at all levels. Accelerate administrative procedure reform, primarily those related to investment, establishment, and operation of enterprises, and administrative services related to people's lives according to Decision No. 07/QD-TTg dated April 1, 2008 of the Prime Minister. Implement the electronic government program linked to the innovation of management methods in the administrative system, consistent with the progress of information technology application in state management.

b) Strictly adhere to the principles of transparency and openness in the activities of state management agencies at all levels; widely disseminate and publicly display regulations, procedures, and clear, specific administrative procedures at offices.

c) Continue to reform the civil service system, including cadre management, civil servants, and officials; salary systems and other policies. Must innovate cadre training and development work, with particular emphasis on moral education and political quality for civil servants.

Promote grassroots democracy, strengthen dialogue between local authorities and business communities and residents.

5. Strengthen anti-corruption work.

a) Improve the legal system for preventing and combating corruption; implement and enforce the Anti-Corruption Law, the Law on Thrift and Combating Wastefulness, and amend and complete the Law on Complaints and Petitions.

Further enhance the sense of responsibility of all levels, sectors, agencies, organizations, units, cadres, civil servants, and officials in anti-corruption work.

b) Organize the effective operation of the Central Steering Committee for Preventing and Combating Corruption, including anti-corruption agencies of ministries and sectors and local steering committees for preventing and combating corruption as stipulated by the Anti-Corruption Law. Closely combine the implementation of the anti-corruption action program with the thrift and anti-waste action program, especially in land, basic construction investment, revenue and expenditure of the state budget, financial management, cadre promotion and placement. Strengthen management and supervision of the income of cadres and civil servants, especially those in positions of power.

6. Strengthen national defense and security, maintain national independence and social order and safety, particularly in key areas, border regions, and islands, creating a stable political environment for economic development and international economic integration.

II. TASKS OF BUILDING THE STATE BUDGET FOR 2009:

Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, central-level agencies, localities, agencies, units, and organizations using the state budget shall organize the construction of the state budget for 2009 in accordance with the provisions of the State Budget Law, Decree No. 60/2003/NĐ-CP dated June 6, 2003 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of the State Budget Law, and related legal documents. The construction of the state budget for 2009 must be linked to the Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2006-2010, and the projected plan for 2009 at the national level and by ministries, sectors, and localities.

The state budget for 2009 must contribute to curbing inflation, stabilizing the macro-economy to ensure sustainable development, creating a transparent, open, and equal investment and business environment, while effectively addressing social welfare issues.

On this basis, in constructing the state budget for 2009, attention should be paid to the following basic contents:

1. The state revenue budget for 2009 shall be constructed in a positive direction, closely aligned with forecasts of economic development and tax policies, strengthening measures to resolve outstanding tax debts definitively, preventing tax evasion and fraud, and commercial malpractices. The state revenue budget aims to mobilize efforts to achieve over 22% of GDP, with tax and fees accounting for more than 21% of GDP. Domestic revenue (excluding oil revenues and land use fees) should increase by an average of at least 17% to 19% compared to the estimated actual performance in 2008.

2. The state expenditure budget for 2009 shall be constructed based on balancing revenue sources and current legal regulations on financial systems and policies, focusing on achieving socio-economic development goals. When constructing the state expenditure budget for 2009, the following points should be noted:

a) Construct the state expenditure budget for investment development in a direction that continues to implement solutions for reviewing, reorganizing, and adjusting investment capital according to Resolution No. 10/2008/NQ-CP dated April 17, 2008 of the Government and Decision No. 390/QĐ-TTg dated April 17, 2008 of the Prime Minister, concentrating on enhancing the efficiency of capital utilization, contributing to curbing inflation, stabilizing the macro-economy, and promoting economic growth.

The state expenditure budget for investment development in 2009 needs to focus on allocating funds for investment development in socio-economic development programs, poverty reduction work during the 2006-2010 period, prioritizing capital for national key projects and state-prioritized investment targets; continuing to prioritize investment development funding for human resources in education, science and technology, healthcare, and public health.

Ministries, sectors, and localities must allocate the state expenditure budget for investment development in 2009 to ensure sufficient counterpart funds for ODA projects; repay the state budget for previously advanced funds; concentrate funds on projects and works completed and put into use in 2009 and ongoing projects, key projects, and urgent projects; ensure funds for investment preparation work; settle debts for completed construction projects. Minimize new starts. Firmly suspend projects not included in approved plans, lacking required procedures, facing many procedural obstacles, incomplete land clearance, non-urgent projects, and those not yielding significant benefits.

Implement targeted supplementary investment development funding from the central budget to local budgets according to decisions of competent authorities, prioritizing difficult areas in the Northern Midland and Mountainous Region, Central Highlands, Southwest, and ethnic minority regions, and other difficult areas; support investment funding for border provinces; supplement funding for implementing national target programs, Program 135 (Phase II), the 5 million hectare forest planting project; counterpart funding for ODA projects; support localities in upgrading provincial health systems and investing in national cultural heritage sites, etc.

b) Construct the state expenditure budget for developing educational, cultural, health, environmental, scientific and technological, social, defense, security, administrative management, Party activities, and mass organizations in accordance with current policies, systems, and standards; prioritize human resource development; ensure allocation of state budget funds for education and training, science and technology, cultural information, environmental protection, and other fields as required by Party resolutions and National Assembly resolutions, including allocating state budget funds for education and vocational training in 2009 to reach 20% of total state budget expenditures; science and technology to reach 2%, and environmental protection expenditures to exceed 1% of total state budget expenditures; prioritize increased allocations for the health sector above the general rate of increase in state budget expenditures.

During the process of preparing the state budget estimate for the year 2009, ministries, sectors, and localities must align with the implementation of Decree No. 130/2005/NĐ-CP dated October 17, 2005, of the Government on delegating autonomy and responsibility for the use of staffing levels and administrative management expenses to all state agencies; for public service organizations, it must align with the implementation of Decree No. 43/2006/NĐ-CP dated April 25, 2006, of the Government stipulating autonomy and responsibility for the performance of tasks, organizational structure, staffing levels, and finance of public service organizations (except for the field of science and technology, which shall be implemented according to Decree No. 115/2005/NĐ-CP dated September 5, 2005, of the Government stipulating the mechanism of autonomy and responsibility of public scientific and technological organizations). Pilot transferring some public service organizations that meet the conditions to operate under a business mechanism. On this basis, restructure the state budget expenditure structure appropriately. Ministries, sectors, and localities within their management functions and scope must actively and effectively implement socialization in public service fields as prescribed by the Government.

c) Regarding the budget estimates for implementing national target programs, Program 135 (Phase II), and the New Forest Planting Plan of 5 million hectares: ministries and program management agencies shall base their decisions on the Prime Minister's approval of the program for the period 2006-2010, expected results by 2008, to provide specific and detailed evaluations for each program and project, comparing them with set targets, requirements, and plans to assess the effectiveness of state budget spending; analyze thoroughly both achievements and limitations, causes, and solutions. Based on this, determine specific goals, tasks, and the state budget estimate for 2009 for national target programs, Program 135 (Phase II), and the New Forest Planting Plan of 5 million hectares, and submit them to the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance for consolidation in the state budget estimate for 2009 to report to the Government and the National Assembly as prescribed by the State Budget Law.

d) Proactively balance the sources of expenditures from the state budget to ensure the implementation of salary reform in the future; at the same time, continue to mobilize other financial resources as prescribed and proactively implement them. Ministries, sectors, central agencies, localities, and units using the state budget must proactively and fully implement measures to generate funds for salary reform as guided in 2008.

đ) For programs and projects using official development assistance (ODA) funds, they must prepare comprehensive budgets strictly in accordance with the procedures and regulations stipulated in the State Budget Law and guiding documents and decrees of the Government on investment management and basic construction, management and use of ODA funds, paying particular attention to detailing ODA funds and counterpart funds for each program and project, ensuring consistency with the nature of investment and construction expenditure and operational expenditure, and being consistent with the progress of implementation.

e) Ministries, central agencies, and localities assigned the task of implementing projects using government bond funds under transportation, water conservancy, health care at the district level, and school infrastructure programs need to urgently forecast the feasibility of implementation and capital needs in 2009, and send these forecasts to the ministries and agencies responsible for managing investment programs funded by government bonds for consolidation and submission to the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance for reporting to the Government and the National Assembly. The Vietnam Social Policy Bank should forecast the capital needs for government bond funds to implement student loans in 2009 and submit them to the Ministry of Finance for consolidation before reporting to the Government and the National Assembly as prescribed.

g) Central and local government budgets at all levels should prioritize allocating higher budget reserves as prescribed by the State Budget Law to proactively respond to natural disasters, floods, epidemics, and urgent social welfare tasks and other important tasks outside the budget estimate.

h) During the preparation of the 2009 state budget estimate, ministries, sectors, and localities have the responsibility to proactively forecast all necessary expenditures for implementing new policies, systems, and tasks (if any), particularly those related to social welfare; ensure that newly proposed policies and systems to be implemented from 2009 are adequately balanced with available resources, preventing a lack of funding for regular tasks, existing policies and systems, and new tasks decided by competent authorities.

3. For ministries and localities piloting the establishment of medium-term financial plans and medium-term expenditure plans according to Decision No. 432/QĐ-TTg dated April 21, 2003, of the Prime Minister, they must align the work of establishing medium-term financial plans and medium-term expenditure plans for the period 2009-2011 with the work of preparing the 2009 state budget estimate. The Ministry of Finance is tasked with leading and providing specific guidance on this matter.

4. Work on preparing local government budgets at all levels: In 2009, it is the third year of the stable period of local government budgets from 2007 to 2010 as decided by the National Assembly. Local People's Councils at all levels must prepare their own local government budgets based on revenue sources and expenditure tasks delegated to them, the percentage (%) allocation of revenues, and supplementary balancing funds from higher-level budgets to lower-level budgets (if any) stabilized at the levels decided by the National Assembly, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, the People's Councils, the Prime Minister, and the higher-level People's Councils in 2007. Therefore, when preparing the 2009 state budget estimate, localities must closely adhere to the goals and tasks of the 2009 state budget as outlined in Clauses 1, 2, and 3, Section II of this Directive. Additionally, pay attention to the following issues:

a) The preparation of the state budget revenue estimate for the local area must be based on the socio-economic development plan targets for the 2006-2010 period that have been approved by the People's Councils at all levels, the ability to achieve economic and social indicators and the state budget in 2008, forecasts of economic growth and revenue sources in 2009 for each industry, sector, and economic entities within the area, paying attention to new expected revenue sources within the area to accurately and fully estimate revenue for each sector and each revenue item according to regulations. The domestic revenue estimate (excluding oil revenue and land use fee revenue) should increase by a minimum of 17% - 19%, and the revenue estimate from import and export activities should increase by a minimum of 5% - 7% compared to the estimated actual performance in 2008.

b) Preparing the draft expenditure budget for the local level:

- Based on the share of local state budget revenue according to the decentralization level, the ratio of revenue distribution between the central budget and the local budget, and the amount of supplementary balance transferred from the central budget to the local budget (if any) assigned stably to determine the local budget expenditure entitlement. Localities need to focus on prioritizing the allocation of expenditure tasks for socio-economic development goals on their territory according to the national and local general plans, with particular emphasis on concentrating resources to ensure expenditures in education and training, science and technology, environmental public services according to Party and National Assembly resolutions; ensuring social security, ...

- For the supplementary budget estimates with specific objectives from the central budget to the local budget such as national target programs, Program 135, the Five Million Hectares Reforestation Project, and other important programs and projects, they are determined based on criteria and standards for allocating investment capital development according to Decision No. 210/2006/QD-TTg dated September 12, 2006, of the Prime Minister and related guiding documents.

c) Regarding land use fee revenue, localities proactively forecast revenue based on planning, plans, and implementation capabilities; while formulating a budget expenditure plan for basic construction investment corresponding to this revenue source to concentrate on economic and social infrastructure projects, relocation and resettlement projects, land clearance for construction; prioritizing sufficient funding to accelerate cadastral surveying, establishing land administration database, and issuing Land Use Right Certificates according to the Law on Land and National Assembly Resolutions.

d) For lottery revenue used for investing in social welfare projects within the locality and managed through the state budget (not included in state budget balancing), provincial and centrally-administered city People's Committees forecast revenue, formulate allocation and usage plans for this revenue to submit to the same-level People's Council for decision, focusing on allocating funds to ensure the completion of basic educational and health care goals (with a minimum of 20% used to implement the Solidification of School and Classroom Buildings and Teachers' Housing Project for the 2008-2012 period), after allocating funds to ensure the completion of basic educational and health care goals, then invest in other important social welfare projects of the locality.

Localities proactively calculate and allocate sources to implement salary reform in 2009 according to principles applied in 2008. The Ministry of Finance is responsible for guiding the specifics of this matter.

Building the budget estimate for mobilizing capital for development investment must be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the State Budget Law and Decree No. 60/2003/NĐ-CP dated June 6, 2003, of the Government; at the same time, proactively allocate local budgets to repay loans and raised funds (both principal and interest) due according to the law.

Localities proactively allocate funds and implement subsidy rates and prices suitable to the actual situation in the locality regarding goods, products, support levels, areas supported, etc.

Based on the local budget balance capability, the implementation of the budget estimate for items supplemented with specific objectives from the central budget to the local budget in 2008, current policies and regulations, build the budget estimate for implementing important projects and tasks proposed to be supplemented with specific objectives from the central budget according to point b, clause 2, Article 29 of Decree No. 60/2003/NĐ-CP dated June 6, 2003, of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of the State Budget Law.

5. Along with building the 2009 state budget estimate, ministries, sectors, central agencies, localities, and units using the state budget must proactively assess and analyze the results of implementation in 2008; focus on directing the settlement of the 2007 state budget according to the provisions of the State Budget Law; publicly disclose the 2006 state budget settlement; promptly address and resolve existing issues and violations detected and recommended by auditing and inspection agencies according to the law during the budget estimate preparation stage.

6. During the process of building the 2009 state budget estimate, ministries, sectors, central agencies, and local authorities at all levels must thoroughly implement the Government's and their own programs of action on thrift, waste prevention, and anti-corruption; ensuring that the state budget estimate building, allocation, and use are truly thrifty and effective.

7. Central ministries and agencies must prepare budget expenditure estimates by implementing units and for important expenditure tasks and provide clear and detailed explanations about the 2009 state budget revenue and expenditure estimates of their ministry, sector, or locality according to regulations, to be sent to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment for consolidation and reporting to the Government.

B. PROGRESS IN BUILDING PLANS AND ASSIGNING IMPLEMENTATION TASKS

I. PROGRESS IN BUILDING PLANS

1. In June 2008, the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance will guide the framework for the socio-economic development plan and the state budget estimate for 2009; the Ministry of Finance will guide the work of medium-term financial planning and medium-term expenditure planning for the 2009-2011 period.

2. In June and July 2008, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, central-level agencies, localities, and other entities using state budget funds shall develop plans for economic and social development and state budget estimates for 2009, medium-term financial plans, and medium-term expenditure plans for the period 2009-2011 (for ministries and localities participating in pilot programs); submit reports to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, and the State Audit Office before July 20, 2008.

3. In August 2008, the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance shall compile plans for economic and social development and state budget estimates for 2009, and at the same time propose allocation schemes for plan indicators and state budget.

4. In September 2008, the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance shall report to the Government on the plans for economic and social development and state budget estimates for 2009, to be submitted to the National Assembly as prescribed by the State Budget Law.

5. Before November 20, 2008, the Prime Minister shall assign plans for economic and social development and state budget estimates for 2009 to ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, localities, and other agencies and units based on the resolutions of the National Assembly regarding state budget estimates and tasks for 2009.

6. Before November 25, 2008, the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance shall provide detailed guidance to ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, central-level agencies, localities, agencies, units, and organizations using state budget funds.

7. Before December 10, 2008, ministries, sectors, and localities shall finalize allocation schemes for plans and state budget estimates for subordinate levels based on the tasks assigned by the Prime Minister and the guidance provided by the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance.

II. ASSIGNMENT OF IMPLEMENTATION

1. The Ministry of Planning and Investment:

a) Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to calculate and determine various options and major balances as the basis for guiding ministries, sectors, and localities in developing plans for economic and social development and state budget estimates for 2009.

b) Organize guidance on the development and compilation of the 2009 economic and social development plan; coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to guide ministries and localities participating in pilot programs in developing medium-term financial plans and medium-term expenditure plans for the period 2009-2011.

c) Take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to organize meetings with central-level ministries and agencies, People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities (as stipulated by the State Budget Law) regarding the 2009 economic and social development plan and the state budget estimate for development expenditures in 2009.

d) Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to propose allocation schemes for central government development expenditures for ministries and central-level agencies and the amount of targeted supplementary capital from the central government budget for local budgets to implement important programs and projects approved by competent authorities; review and compile allocation schemes for the national target program budget, Program 135, and the Five Million Hectares Reforestation Project.

đ) Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance, the People's Committee of Hanoi City, and related localities to implement the 2008 development investment plan and develop the 2009 development investment plan based on the adjustment of Hanoi's administrative boundaries according to the Resolution of the National Assembly at its third session of the 12th term.

2. Ministry of Finance:

a) Guide ministries, sectors, and localities in evaluating the implementation of the 2008 state budget estimate and preparing the 2009 state budget estimate; take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to guide ministries and localities participating in pilot programs in developing medium-term financial plans and medium-term expenditure plans for the period 2009-2011.

b) Take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to organize meetings with central-level ministries and agencies, People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities (as stipulated by the State Budget Law) regarding the 2009 state budget estimate, medium-term financial plans, and medium-term expenditure plans for 2009-2011 (for ministries and localities participating in pilot programs).

c) Take the lead in proposing allocation schemes for regular expenditures from the central government budget for 2009 and the amount of targeted supplementary regular expenditures for 2009 from the central government budget for local budgets.

d) Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and related agencies to develop and compile the 2009 state budget estimate and the allocation scheme for the central government budget for 2009 to be submitted to the Government for submission to the National Assembly for decision.

đ) Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the People's Committee of Hanoi City, and related localities to implement the 2008 state budget estimate and develop the 2009 state budget estimate based on the adjustment of Hanoi's administrative boundaries according to the Resolution of the National Assembly at its third session of the 12th term.

3. Ministries and agencies responsible for managing national target programs, the Five Million Hectares Reforestation Project, trade promotion programs, investment, tourism, etc., which involve cooperation among multiple ministries, agencies, units, and localities:

a) Guide ministries, agencies, units, and related localities in evaluating the implementation of the 2008 budget estimate and preparing the 2009 budget estimate.

b) Take the lead and coordinate with related agencies to propose tasks and allocation schemes for budget estimates within the scope of the total amount of funding announced by the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance for each ministry, agency, unit, and related locality, to be submitted to the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance for review and compilation to be submitted to the Government and the National Assembly for decision.

4. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, central-level agencies, localities, agencies, units, and organizations using state budget funds:

a) Coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance to develop development tasks and state budget estimates for their respective sectors, fields, and own agencies, units, and organizations.

b) Ministries and state agencies shall, within their respective functions, based on calculations of exploitable resources, establish economic and social targets, propose solutions, mechanisms, policies, and new systems, or suggest amendments and supplements to existing systems and policies, and submit them to the competent authority for issuance before the budget preparation deadline (before July 20, 2008). They shall notify the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, relevant ministries, and agencies to serve as the basis for developing the socio-economic development plan and the 2009 state budget.

5. Provincial People's Committees under the Central Government

a) Guide, organize, and direct provincial planning and investment departments and finance departments to closely cooperate with other provincial departments, bureaus, and sectors in developing the socio-economic development plan and the state budget; organize broad consultations on the draft socio-economic development plan to achieve high consensus, and submit it to the competent authority for decision-making; simultaneously report to central agencies as prescribed.

b) The People's Committee of Hanoi City and related localities shall coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance to implement the tasks stipulated in point d, Clause 1, Section II, Part B, and point d, Clause 2, Section II, Part B of this Directive.

The Prime Minister requests ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-affiliated agencies, central-level agencies, chairpersons of provincial and centrally-administered city people's committees, and heads of units and organizations using the budget to organize the implementation of this Directive.

[1] Including investment expenditures from lottery revenue