Why is the approval of ODA projects delayed?

Responding to a question from National Assembly Delegate Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy (Da Nang) regarding the slow approval of ODA projects and the resulting increase in project costs, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung stated that ODA is a source of state budget funds, therefore its use must ensure efficiency and remain within the public debt and budget deficit limits.

The process and procedures are meticulously designed and consist of four steps: Project proposal, policy approval, investment decision, and agreement signing. All four steps require the Prime Minister's permission.

In reality, the process can be more complex because, in addition to domestic procedures, it also requires fulfilling the requirements of foreign donors.

"Currently, the average project preparation time is about 2-3 years, while large, complex projects may take up to 5 years to complete the process," the Minister said.

According to Minister Nguyen Chi Dung, the more thorough the project preparation, the faster, more efficient, and less costly its implementation will be.

The Minister acknowledged that, during the implementation of the procedures, there were still instances of poor quality in processing applications, slow processing by participating agencies, and inconsistencies...

The responsible ministry will review, expedite, and resolve procedures more quickly and transparently, while still ensuring strict adherence to regulations.

Regarding costs, the Minister affirmed that the entire project preparation phase did not incur any additional costs; project costs only began to arise from the time of signing.