Hanoi (VNA) – A workshop washeld in Hanoi on January 16 to discuss international experiences in capital managementand mobilisation, and infrastructure development, as well as to seek policyrecommendations for Vietnam in such fields.

Opening the event, which formed part of theVietnam Economic Forum 2019, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Vu DaiThang said that the Party has defined institutions, infrastructure, and humanresources as three strategic breakthroughs for Vietnam’s socio-economicdevelopment during the 2011-2020 period.

He stressed the need to build a synchronous infrastructuresystem with a number of modern works focusing on urban transport andinfrastructure.

Thang pointed to four major areas in need ofurgent investment, namely transport infrastructure; power supplyinfrastructure; irrigation infrastructure that is adaptable to climate change;and urban infrastructure.

He noted that over the years, Vietnam’s basicinfrastructure system has gradually been completed, meeting core socio-economicdevelopment requirements.

Thang said that along with optimising Statebudget resources, the Government has paid great attention to mobilising privateinvestment, especially through the public-private partnership (PPP) form.

So far, Vietnam has attracted 150 projects underthe PPP model, with a total investment of about 50 billion USD, helping toimprove the national infrastructure system.

However, he held that along with theachievements, Vietnam has faced a number of difficulties, including the largeinvestment in infrastructure compared to the scale of the economy, leading toimbalances in the macro-economy and the general development of the economy, aswell as added pressure in public debt.  

Vietnam is now seen as a middle-incomecountry, therefore the need for soft loans will reduce. On the other hand, institutionaland administrative reforms are still a challenge for the Government to improvethe investment environment and lure more social investment for infrastructuredevelopment, Thang stated.

The deputy minister also underlined the necessityof seeking comprehensive solutions to the issue, especially in terms ofmechanisms and policies for investment capital governance and mobilisation.

At the workshop, exerts of managementagencies from regional countries and international organisations shared theirexperiences in infrastructure reform and development, focusing especially oncapital management and attraction, as well as the PPP model and restructuring theinfrastructure management system.–VNA