Focus on solving urgent tasks
First of all, congratulations on being approved by the National Assembly as Minister of Transport. How do you feel now?
I would like to thank the National Assembly for trusting and approving the Prime Minister’s proposal for me to take on the role of Minister of Transport. I understand that this is both an honor and a great responsibility that the Party, State, National Assembly, Government and people have entrusted me with at this time.
As we all know, transportation at any stage plays a particularly important role in social life. Uncle Ho said: “Transport is the bloodline of an organization. Good transportation makes everything easy. Bad transportation makes everything stagnant.”
Therefore, transportation must always be one step ahead to pave the way, create breakthroughs in socio-economic development, ensure national defense, security and sustainable development of the country.
Carrying out this task in the context of a very tight state budget and public investment, high public debt, and difficulties in ODA loans and mobilization from society is a huge challenge for myself and the transport sector.
So, in your opinion, what are the biggest difficulties and challenges facing the transport sector today? What is the first thing you plan to do in your new position?
Currently, transport is one of the three bottlenecks of the economy, and at the same time one of the three breakthroughs that the entire political system needs to focus on solving. Therefore, for me personally, there is a lot of work to do in my position as Minister of Transport.
However, in the immediate future, I and the entire transport sector need to focus on solving some urgent tasks such as: Proposing a plan to effectively use medium-term capital for the 2017-2020 period; Early implementation of construction of some sections of the North-South expressway and Long Thanh airport; Early completion of elevated railway lines in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City; Proposing solutions to limit traffic congestion in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Tan Son Nhat International Airport; Solving existing problems related to BOT transport projects…
BOT is still a very important capital mobilization channel
Can the Minister elaborate on solutions to overcome existing problems related to BOT projects, so that this form of capital mobilization can truly be effective in the coming time?
As far as I know, the Ministry of Transport has recently conducted a review of 5 years of investment in transport infrastructure under the BOT and BT forms in the period 2011-2016 and has objectively and comprehensively assessed the advantages and disadvantages of this form of investment. The Ministry of Transport has also researched and considered to issue a unified policy to resolve the existing problems of BOT projects nationwide on the basis of ensuring the harmony of interests of the State, enterprises and people, and at the same time has a policy to stop implementing BOT projects on existing routes; only calling for BOT investment on new routes to provide choices for people and vehicles.
In urgent cases, when the State cannot arrange capital sources and must call for BOT investment in existing and unique projects, it must fully consult local opinions through representative agencies such as the People’s Council, the National Assembly Delegation, transport associations, and functional agencies. It is possible to consider asking for opinions from the National Assembly.
I also know that in implementing BOT projects, the Ministry of Transport has made maximum use of the provisions of Decree 108, Decree 15 and Decree 30. In the process of implementing BOT projects, according to the provisions of law, many ministries and communities have shared responsibilities such as: Ministry of Construction examines and appraises the budget, Ministry of Planning and Investment issues licenses, Ministry of Finance decides on toll prices…
However, due to the lack of a tight system, some shortcomings have arisen. And during the process, auditing and inspection agencies have also joined the Ministry of Transport to promptly detect and handle arising shortcomings.
The National Assembly Standing Committee has just issued a Resolution requesting the Ministry of Transport in the coming period to advise the Government and the National Assembly, if necessary, to upgrade the Decree to a Law or Ordinance to be more specific about BOT. From now on, the Ministry of Transport will be responsible for advising the Government and the National Assembly on each specific issue. Whatever direction the Government and the National Assembly agree on, the Ministry of Transport will handle it in that direction. We have all recognized the shortcomings of BOT projects, but the authority is no longer with the Ministry of Transport, but must ask for opinions from higher levels.
In the coming time, we will try to complete the law and properly implement the law so that BOT ensures the harmony of interests between the people – investors and the State. Because this is still a very important capital mobilization channel for infrastructure development in current conditions.
Taking on the task in the context of the transport sector facing many challenges, especially difficulties in resources, very limited budget capital, reduced ODA because Vietnam has become a middle-income country, and the attraction of socialized capital has slowed down…, does the Minister have any specific plans and goals to develop the transport sector and continue to remove bottlenecks in transport infrastructure?
Yes, as I said above, BOT is a very important capital mobilization channel for infrastructure development in difficult budget conditions. However, in the past, capital mobilization has mainly focused on the road and aviation sectors.
In the long term, we must find solutions to mobilize capital sources to develop balanced and effective types of transport, especially promoting the effectiveness of inland waterways, railways and sea routes to meet the needs of sustainable national development.
Transport needs a strategic breakthrough
I would like to ask the Minister one last question. How do you evaluate the achievements of the transport sector and the transport sector staff, with whom you have worked for many years and will be working closely in the future? On the occasion of taking on the role of Minister of Transport, what message would you like to send to them?
Having worked for many years in the local transport sector and as Deputy Minister of Transport, I have always understood and appreciated the rich tradition of “Leading the way” of the transport sector. Over the past 72 years, in any period, the transport sector has always demonstrated its ability to overcome difficulties and challenges.
In that long tradition, every officer and employee of the Transport sector who has worked and is working has contributed a part of his or her efforts. Here, I would also like to share that the Transport sector has achieved many miracles and achievements in the past, but there is still much to do in the future. In this period, more than ever, the Transport sector must have a strategic breakthrough in developing a synchronous and modern transport infrastructure system, ensuring the goal of socio-economic development of the country.
In the future, to complete the assigned tasks, I hope to always receive timely attention and direction from the Politburo, the Central Executive Committee, the National Assembly, the Government and the Prime Minister, the assistance of the Central and local ministries, branches; the support of the people and the media, especially the solidarity and unity of all civil servants and public employees of the entire transport sector. I myself will also make every effort to best fulfill the assigned duties and tasks.
Thank you very much Minister!
Source: Traffic Newspaper
