Decision 417/QD-TTg 2019 overall action program to implement Resolution 120/NQ-CP

DECISION

Promulgating an overall action program to implement Resolution No. 120/NQ-CP of November 17, 2017, on sustainable and climate-resilient development of the Mekong River delta^[1]

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the June 19, 2015 Law on Organization of the Government,

Pursuant to the Government’s Resolution No. 120/NQ-CP of November 17, 2017, on sustainable and climate-resilient development of the Mekong River delta;

At the proposal of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment,

DECIDES:

Article 1.To promulgate together with this Decision an overall action program to implement the Government’s Resolution No. 120/NQ-CP of November 17, 2017, on sustainable and climate-resilient development of the Mekong River delta.

Article 2.The Decision takes effect on the date of its signing.

Article 3.Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, chairpersons of People’s Committees of the provinces and centrally-run city of the Mekong River delta, chairperson of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee and related agencies shall implement this Decision.

Prime Minister
NGUYEN XUAN PHUC

An overall action program to implement Resolution No. 120/NQ-CP of November 17, 2017, on sustainable and climate-resilient development of the Mekong River delta

(Promulgated together with the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 417/
QD-TTg of April 13, 2019)

To implement Resolution No. 120/NQ-CP of November 17, 2017, on sustainable and climate-resilient development of the Mekong River delta (below referred to as Resolution No. 120/NQ-CP), the Prime Minister promulgates an overall action program to implement Resolution No. 120/NQ-CP with the following principal contents:

I. OBJECTIVES AND REQUIREMENTS

1. Objectives

The overall action program sets forth main tasks and solutions that need to be performed in different periods by ministries, sectors, provinces and the centrally run city of the Mekong River delta and Ho Chi Minh City so as to direct, formulate and implement specific programs, schemes, projects and solutions to fully, comprehensively and effectively perform the tasks and solutions set forth in Resolution No. 120/NQ-CP.

2. Requirements

The tasks and solutions set forth in the overall action program center and focus on, and are accompanied with an implementation roadmap and deadline aimed at ensuring the feasibility, effectiveness of, the contents of Resolution No. 120/NQ-CP. Based on the tasks and solutions in the overall action program, the ministries, sectors, provinces and the centrally-run city of the Mekong River delta and Ho Chi Minh City shall set forth and perform specific and detailed tasks and incorporate the content of climate change in the tasks that have been and are being performed.

II. TASKS AND SOLUTIONS

The overall action program sets forth six groups of main specific tasks and solutions, including: (1) reviewing, improving and supplementing the system of mechanisms and policies; (2) updating and systematizing inter-sectoral data, and intensifying baseline surveys; (3) planning and organizing territorial space; (4) developing a rational economic structure adaptable to climate change; (5) investing and developing infrastructure; and (6) developing and mobilizing resources. Detailed contents of each group of tasks and solutions are as follows:

1. Reviewing, improving and supplementing the system of mechanisms and policies

To review and improve the system of mechanisms and policies so as to prevent overlapping and lack of coordination in the state management that might lead to weakened combined strength of the region. To focus on inter-sectoral and inter-regional mechanisms and policies on sustainable and climate-resilient development of the Mekong River delta in the immediate future and period after 2020.

a/ To formulate a mechanism for coordination, supervision and evaluation of the progress and effectiveness of the overall action program to implement Resolution No. 120/NQ-CP;

b/ To review and evaluate a pilot mechanism for regional coordination under the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 593/QD-TTg of April 6, 2016, promulgating the Regulation on pilot connectivity for the Mekong River delta’s socio-economic development in the 2016-2020 period, and submit to the Prime Minister solutions to perfect the mechanism for coordination and development of the Mekong River delta, including the founding of a regional coordination council;

c/ To review and formulate new mechanisms and policies to develop and attract  enterprises’ investment in modern agriculture and rural areas; to formulate a mechanism for coordination between the Mekong River delta and southeastern provinces and Ho Chi Minh City in order to ensure the connection among the regional localities and between these localities and other regions; to formulate industry and trade development mechanisms and policies to support agricultural economy and farm produce processing industry; to support the trade promotion to help the Mekong River delta’s commodities join the international distribution chains;

d/ To review and revise the land policies to facilitate large-scale commodity agricultural production with high competitiveness, efficiency and sustainability;

dd/ To review and improve the mechanisms and policies to support the application and transfer of science and technology, especially high technology, to agricultural production;

e/ To review and improve the mechanisms and policies to develop urban zones and rural residential areas compatible with natural ecological characteristics and conditions of each ecological region and sub-region adaptable to climate change and sea level rise;

g/ To review and improve the preferential policies on socio-economic development in the areas inhabited by ethnic minority people, especially the Kh’mer, and training and retraining of ethnic minority officials in the Mekong River delta.

2. Updating and systematizing inter-sectoral data and intensifying baseline surveys

The update and systematization of inter-sectoral data and intensification of baseline surveys aim to improve and unify the management of the inter-sectoral data system and promote baseline surveys to fully update information and data on the whole region, serve the planning of territorial space, develop a rational economic structure and formulate a master plan on sustainable and climate-resilient development of the Mekong River delta.

a/ To review, update and build a system of specialized and inter-sectoral databases on the Mekong River delta for adaptation to climate change and connection with the International Mekong River Commission’s database; to build an inter-regional integrated data center in the Mekong River delta.

b/ To intensify baseline surveys on natural resources and environment in support of the forecasting, prevention and control of natural disasters, landslide and subsidence in the Mekong River delta.

c/ To update and modernize the system of observation, monitoring, warning and forecasting of natural resources and environment.

d/ To regularly update, perfect and announce Vietnam’s climate change and sea level rise scenarios until 2100 with great details for the Mekong River delta; to compile documents guiding the use of these scenarios.

3. Planning and organizing territorial spaces

To review and evaluate the implementation of sectoral and local development master plans available in the Mekong River delta and formulate a master plan on sustainable and climate-resilient development of the Mekong River delta under the Planning Law. To replace the phrase “cohabitation with flood” with the phrase “proactive cohabitation with flood” in the new master plan; to organize the regional territorial space into ecological sub-regions directed toward economic, agricultural and infrastructure development; to organize and develop urban systems and rural residential areas compatible with characteristics of natural ecosystems and practical conditions of the region and ecological sub-regions.

a/ To review sectoral and local development master plans of the Mekong River delta in order to to ensure the overall connection among regional master plans;

b/ To formulate and organize the implementation of a master plan on sustainable and climate-resilient development of the Mekong River delta through 2030 with a vision toward 2050 based on the integration of sectoral and local development master plans already approved in accordance with the planning law.

c/ To review and modify technical and specialized master plans and formulate provincial master plans in the 2021-2030 period in conformity with the master plan on sustainable development of the Mekong River delta in accordance with the planning law and relevant specialized laws.

4. Developing a rational economic structure adaptable to climate change

The building of a sustainable and climate-resilient economic structure is a pivotal task to materialize the viewpoint of turning climate change challenges into opportunities. Specific tasks shall be performed based on in the new way of thinking from the pure agricultural production to development of agricultural economy with new and diverse models, thus meeting the market requirements against the backdrop of climate change.

To fundamentally change the regional economy from production models, practices, livelihood, lifestyle and residential network to each household; to develop a diversified and quality agricultural economy, build a new countryside together with the development and application of high, clean and organic technologies; to proactively live with flood and adapt to regional natural characteristics; to effectively exploit and use brackish water and saltwater; to respond to storms, flood, drought and saltwater infiltration. To regard water resources as a key factor serving the formulation of regional development strategies, policies and master plans.

To set out criteria for building ecosystem-based transformation models compatible with local natural conditions, biodiversity, culture, people and natural laws. The transition of production models requires a long-term vision toward raising economic efficiency, reducing vulnerability to risks and attaching importance to the conservation of the region’s cultural and historical values, biodiversity and ecological environment.

Specific tasks:

a/ To develop an agricultural production structure on three pillars of fisheries-fruit trees-rice in ecological sub-regions;

b/ To develop green industry with low carbon emission, causing no damage to the natural ecosystems, attaching importance to the development of renewable energies in couple with forest development and coastal protection in the whole region;

c/ To develop services-tourism into a strong economic sector based on effectively tapping potential and advantages in natural and ecological conditions, cultural features and people in the Mekong River delta.

5. Investing and developing infrastructure

Infrastructure investment and development projects must ensure the consistency, inter-regional and inter-sectoral nature, have focuses and rational roadmaps. To prioritize urgent and dynamic works to boost the whole region’s socio-economic development and essential works serving people’s life, and attach importance to structural and non-structural solutions.

To immediately perform urgent tasks to prevent serious landslides and land subsidence in coastal areas and river banks. To step up the inspection, survey, formulation and approval of investment projects to be implemented after 2020. Such specific tasks include:

a/ To protect the coastline, consolidate and upgrade the sea dike system together with the system of hydraulic works and embankment to prevent coastal erosion; to concentrate investment on rebuilding seriously eroded river banks and coastal embankment sections. To build embankments to create areas for growing mangrove forests to protect the system of river and sea dikes and develop ecological livelihood associated with forests;

b/ To develop the urban system and rural residential spots suitable to features of the natural ecosystem and practical conditions of the region and ecological sub-regions;

c/ To upgrade and modernize the system of hydraulic works serving the natural disaster prevention and control, livelihood development and sustainable agricultural transformation, development and restructuring in the ecological sub-regions in which the public-private partnership form will be prioritized;

d/ To ensure safe houses against inundation, drought, storm, flood, thunderstorm, whirlwind and sea level rise. In the immediate future, to invest in building residential clusters and houses in the flooded areas; to build pilot storm- and whirlwind-proof houses and works;

dd/ To completely build the transport infrastructure system with priority given to transport works in flood-prone areas and works serving the connection and transshipment aimed to promote multimodal transport in the Mekong River delta provinces; to synchronously build and develop information and communications infrastructure, power supply, water supply and drainage and healthcare networks;

e/ To invest in water supply and drainage and wastewater treatment systems, solid waste treatment facilities; to step up the recycling and reuse and generation of energy from wastes in the Mekong River delta for the purpose of sustainable development;

g/ To implement and draw experience from schemes on connection for sustainable development of the Mekong River delta sub-regions.

6. Developing and mobilizing resources

The tasks of developing and mobilizing resources include improving the awareness; and developing human resources; science and technology; finance and international cooperation. The formulation, approval and  implementation of programs, plans and tasks must be carried out before 2020 and updated and further carried out in the 2021-2030 period.

a/ To intensify the public information to raise the awareness: to organize the public communication to raise the awareness of authorities, enterprises and people about opportunities of transition models to sustainably develop the Mekong River delta resilient to climate change under Resolution No. 120/NQ-CP;

b/ To train and develop human resources: to formulate and implement schemes on occupational changes and job placement for agricultural and rural workers in the direction of specialization and professionalization; to provide market information to and support and mobilize the participation of enterprises; to provide vocational training and develop human resources, especially high-quality human resources; to renovate the training and development of human resources for collective and cooperative economy;

c/ To develop and apply science and technology: to effectively implement key scientific and technological programs and tasks; to ensure the selective and efficiency-based allocation of scientific and technological resources. To promote researches in environmental protection, natural disaster prevention and control, reduction of vulnerability to, and adverse effects of, climate change; to perform key and urgent tasks to serve the production and prevention and control of disasters and response to climate change; to create, select and develop the region’s potential and advantageous plant varieties, livestock and aquatic breeds; to create new sources of alternative materials to serve the ground filling and leveling and construction in order to limit the exploitation of river bed sand; to formulate and implement climate-resilient science and technology programs for the sustainable development of the Mekong River delta;

d/ To mobilize and manage financial resources: to step up the mobilization of financial resources for the sustainable development and climate change adaptation in the Mekong River delta; to increase the efficiency of utilization of funds and speed up the capital disbursement to ensure the efficient use of medium-term public investment capital;

dd/ To promote international cooperation: to enhance the coordination of bilateral and multilateral cooperation with countries in the greater  Mekong sub-region as well as international cooperation in scientific research and technological application and transfer; and to establish new cooperation frameworks.

The overall action program to implement Resolution No. 120/NQ-CP shall be implemented in four phases: through 2020, the 2021-2030 period, the 2031-2050 period and up to 2100, specifically as follows:

A. THROUGH 2020

In this period, the program will focus on the performance of the urgent tasks set forth in Resolution No. 120/NQ-CP, with priority given to addressing coastal and river and canal bank erosion and land subsidence which occur in a rampant and serious manner; to plan and design projects that need large-scale investment in the subsequent period in order to implement regional socio-economic models in a sustainable manner and proactive adaptation to climate change.

Key tasks of this period are to concentrate on reviewing mechanisms and policies, determining and submitting for approval new policies. To implement on a pilot basis economic transition models; to carry out approved infrastructure construction investment activities. Priority should be given to investment projects to renew the region’s economic models that play an important role in the sustainable and climate-resilient development of the Mekong River delta. To review, formulate and finalize a master plan on sustainable and climate-resilient development of the Mekong River delta through 2030, with a vision toward 2050by the multi-sectoral integrated approach; and to implement the approved programs and schemes. To review, update and complete the system of specialized and inter-sectoral database on the Mekong River delta; to formulate and approve schemes on intensification of baseline surveys on natural resources and environment and disaster prevention and control in the Mekong River delta; to upgrade the system of monitoring, supervision, warning and forecasting of natural resources and environment.

To implement communications programs and provide training and refresher courses; to implement human resources development schemes as well as approved scientific and technological research projects.

B. THE 2021-2030 PERIOD

Based on results of the implementation of tasks and solutions of the period through 2020, this period will focus on the implementation of the approved projects and tasks as well as capital construction investment projects and tasks that require large funds. Tasks that need to be performed in the 2021-2030 period include the implementation of the mechanisms, policies and master plans formulated and approved in the period through 2020; to maintain and update the inter-sectoral database and continue baseline surveys of natural resources and environment in the Mekong River delta; to implement rational economic models that have been successfully piloted; to further invest and develop infrastructure and develop and mobilize resources. Key tasks and solutions of the 2021-2030 period include:

1. To draw experience and expand successfully piloted economic transition models, invest in infrastructure building under programs and projects approved in the first phase or to be approved in the second phase. To prioritize investment projects for renewing the region’s economic models with an important role in the sustainable and climate-resilient development of the Mekong River delta.

2. To continue reviewing, improving and supplementing the system of mechanisms and policies: to implement mechanisms and policies approved in the first phase.

3. To update, systematize and develop an inter-sectoral database; to regularly update data to serve the planning and organization of territorial space, renew production models and formulate the master plan on sustainable and climate-resilient development. To regularly update, complete and publicize the climate change and sea level rise scenario for Vietnam and update the inter-sectoral database to serve the response to climate change.

4. The group of tasks of planning and organizing the territorial space: to implement a master plan on sustainable and climate-resilient development of the Mekong River delta through 2030 with a vision toward 2050 by multi-sectoral integrated approach; to implement determined and approved programs and schemes.

5. The group of tasks of building a rational economic structure adaptable to climate change: to draw experiences and expand successfully piloted agricultural production restructuring models on three pillars of fisheries fruit trees and rice in the ecological sub-regions. To continue performing tasks to build a rational agricultural economic structure so as to integrate commodity chains and deeply join the global value chains. To attach importance to the chain of processing industry and allied industries for agricultural economy. To perform the tasks of developing green industry and renewable energies; to develop tourism and services based on potential and advantages in natural features, ecology, culture and people, and develop tourist service development models and nature reserves.

6. The group of infrastructure investment and development tasks: to invest in projects determined in master plans and plans under the approved roadmap and approved projects, focusing on drawing experience and multiplying successfully piloted models from the previous period.

7. The group of tasks of resources development and mobilization: to continue implementing communications programs, and organize training and refresher courses; to implement the approved human resources development schemes and scientific and technological research projects. The mobilization of financial resources, as one of the key priorities in this period, covers the operation of the fund for the sustainable development of the Mekong River delta.

C. ORIENTATIONS FOR 2031-2050 PERIOD

In this period, to continue implementing the tasks, solutions, programs, projects and tasks from the period through 2020 and the 2021-2030 period, and modify and supplement the overall master plan as appropriate to ensure by 2050 the Mekong River delta will become a high-quality commodity agricultural zone where sufficient services and eco-tourism will be provided and have a fairly high development level compared to the whole country in terms of social organization, economic growth and climate-resilient infrastructure suitable to water resource conditions and disaster control requirements.

To step by step industrialize the commodity chain-based specialized agriculture suitable to local soil conditions and situation of flood, drought, salination, lack of freshwater and climate change scenario in each sub-region; to complete infrastructure facilities to ensure convenient access to domestic and international markets. Major investment decisions should be made after consulting stakeholders with focus on serving the development of specialized agricultural zones to provide high-quality commodity products combined with services and eco-tourism and after making full assessment of costs and benefits as well as social organization, land conditions, water resources and climate change in the region.

D. ORIENTATIONS TOWARD 2100

In this period, to bring into play results of the performance of the tasks and solutions of the period before 2050, including in-depth development of high-quality agricultural commodity models. The Mekong River delta’s products will become prestigious and competitive brands in the world and compatible with the region’s climate, land and soil conditions. Service and eco-tourist zones will become strong attractive destinations for foreign tourists in the high-quality tourist chain of the Mekong River region. By 2100, the Mekong River delta will become an economic center of the Mekong River region with an advanced level of socio-economic organization and climate-resilient infrastructure network. Specific tasks for the period from 2051 to 2100 will be added to the revised overall action program in the next period.

III. ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION

1. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall:

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the National Committee on Climate Change, related ministries and sectors, and People’s Committees of the provinces and centrally-run city of the Mekong River delta, and of Ho Chi Minh City in, monitoring and urging the implementation of the overall action program; regularly review, summarize, report to and propose the Government, Prime Minister and National Committee on Climate Change necessary solutions to ensure synchronous and effective implementation of the overall action program.

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment in supervising and assessing the implementation of the overall action program; report to and advise the Government and Prime Minister on solutions to shortcomings and hindrances at central and local levels in the course of implementation to ensure the timely and effective implementation of the Resolution and overall action program, bringing practical efficiency to local people.

- Implement the overall action program and perform the assigned tasks.

2. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall:

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related ministries, sectors and agencies in, formulating a master plan on sustainable and climate-resilient development of the Mekong River delta through 2030 with a vision toward 2050in accordance with the planning law, and then submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration and approval before the third quarter of 2020.

- Coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in, supervising and assessing the implementation of the program.

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance in, reviewing and incorporating investment projects in medium-term and annual public investment plans in order to perform tasks suitable to the state budget capacity and in accordance with relevant laws.

- To implement the overall action program and perform the assigned tasks.

3. The Ministry of Finance shall:

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related ministries and agencies in, allocating or guide the allocation of funds for regular expenses for the implementation of the overall action program under regulations.

- To implement the overall action program and perform the assigned tasks.

4. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies, and the People’s Committees of the provinces and centrally-run city of the Mekong River delta and of Ho Chi Minh City shall:

- Concentrate resources on performing tasks assigned in the enclosed list of schemes, programs, projects and tasks, ensuring required quality and progress.

- Review the Mekong River delta’s approved sectoral development master plans to ensure the connectivity and synchronicity among regional master plans; propose planning contents to be incorporated in a master plan on sustainable and climate-resilient development of the Mekong River delta through 2030 with a vision toward 2050in accordance with the planning law.

- Assume the prime responsibility for reviewing, modifying and formulating technical and specialized master plans as assigned in line with a master plan on sustainable and climate-resilient development of the Mekong River delta through 2030 with a vision toward 2050; formulate their own master plans as assigned to be incorporated in a master plan on sustainable and climate-resilient development of the Mekong River delta through 2030 with a vision toward 2050in accordance with the planning law.

- To intensify the supervision of and public communication about their assigned tasks to improve public awareness about the performance of such tasks.

- To make annual reports on progress of tasks being currently performed, results of completed tasks and uncompleted tasks as required by the performance schedule and send them to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment before December 15 for summing up and reporting to the Government and Prime Minister.

Based on the approved overall action program to implement Resolution No. 120/NQ-CP of November 17, 2017, on sustainable and climate-resilient development of the Mekong River delta, ministries, ministerial-level agencies and government-attached agencies, and the People’s Committees of the provinces and centrally-run city of the Mekong River delta and of the Ho Chi Minh City that are assigned tasks, schemes and projects shall formulate detailed contents, estimate funds in accordance with current laws and submit them to competent authorities for approval and use as a basis for allocating funds in accordance with the Law on the State Budget. Ministries, sectors and localities shall include in their annual budget estimates funds for the performance of tasks and implementation of schemes and projects within their functions and regular tasks.-

Prime Minister
NGUYEN XUAN PHUC