Decision No. 825/QD-TTg 2020 Operational Regulation of the Mekong Delta Regional Coordinating Council in 2020 - 2025

DECISION

On the establishment and promulgation of theOperational Regulation of the Mekong Delta Regional Coordinating Council for the 2020 – 2025 period

__________

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Governmental organization, dated June 19, 2015;

Pursuant to the Government’s Resolution No.120/NQ-CP, dated November 17, 2017, on the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta region in response to climate change;

Pursuant to the Decision No.34/2007/QD-TTgof the Prime Minister, dated March 12, 2007, prescribing the Regulation on the establishment and operation of inter-disciplinary coordinating organizations;

Pursuant to the Decision No.593/QD-TTgof the Prime Minister, dated April 06, 2016, prescribing the Regulation on piloting connectivity for the Mekong Delta region’s socio-economic development for the 2016 - 2020 period;

Pursuant to the Decision No.417/QD-TTgof the Prime Minister, dated April 13, 2019, prescribing the Overall Action Plan for the implementation of the Government’s Resolution No.120/NQ-CP, dated November 17, 2017, on the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta region in response to climate change;

Pursuant to the Directive No.23/CT-TTgof the Prime Minister, dated September 05, 2019, on strengthening the implementation of the Government’s Resolution No.120/NQ-CPon the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta region in response to climate change;

At the request of the Minister of Planning and Investment at the Report No.2885/TTr-BKHDT, dated May 04, 2020.

DECIDES:

Article 1. To Establish the Mekong Delta Regional Coordinating Council (hereinafter referred to as the Regional Coordinating Council) for the 2020 – 2025 period with a view to reforming the regional coordinating mechanism and promoting the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta region in response to climate change.

Article 2. Functions of the Regional Coordinating Council

The Regional Coordinating Council is an inter-disciplinary coordinating organization established under the decision of the Prime Minister. This Council shall be responsible for advising and putting forwards suggestions to the Prime Minister and assisting the Prime Minister in directing, coordinating, inspecting and supervising the implementation of the regional connectivity and the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta region in response to climate change, including the development of the Mekong Delta key economic region.

Article 3. The organizational structure of the Regional Coordinating Council

1. The Mekong Delta Regional Coordinating Council shall include:

- Chairman of the Council: Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dzung;

- Permanent Vice Chairman of the Council: TheMinister of Planning and Investment;

- Vice Chairman of the Council: TheMinister of Natural Resources and Environment;

- Vice Chairman of the Council: TheMinister of Agriculture and Rural Development;

- Vice Chairman of the Council: TheMinister of Transport;

- Permanent Member: TheDeputy Minister of Planning and Investment;

- Members:

+ TheDeputy Ministers and equivalent positions of ministries and ministerial-level agencies: Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Training, the Government Office;

+ TheChairpersons of municipal and provincial People’s Committees: Can Tho,Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, TraVinh, Vinh Long, Soc Trang, Hau Giang, An Giang, Đong Thap, Kien Giang, Bac Lieu và CaMau;

+ 01 member of the Council who is the representative of typical experts and scientists working in training and scientific research institutions of the region;

+ 01 member who is the trusted representative of the business community of the Mekong Delta region.

2. The Standing Board of the Regional Coordinating Council shall include the Chairman, Vice Chairmen and Permanent Member of the Council.

3. The Regional Coordinating Council shall be able to establish sub-committees which serve as the coordinating focal points according to sectors, fields or sub-regions. The subcommittees shall be organized and run on a part-time basis asprescribed by the Chairman of the Regional Coordinating Council.

4. The advisory and assisting apparatus of the Regional Coordinating Council, ministries, and municipal and provincial People s Committees involved in the region’s coordinating activities shall include: The Regional Coordinating Council Office, Ministerial-level Coordinating Teams, Provincial-level Coordinating Teams and Consultant Teams.

Article 4. Contents and fields involved in regional coordinating activities

Contents and fields involved in regional coordinating activities for regional connectivity and sustainable development in response to climate change shall include:

1. Linkage for the socio-economic development in the Mekong Delta region.

2. Coordination for the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta region in response to climate change.

3. Coordination in implementing the Master Plan of the Mekong Delta region for the2021 – 2030period, with visions towards 2050.

4. Other activities and linkages prescribed in the Decision No.593/QD-TTgof the Prime Minister, dated April 06, 2016.

5. Other contents and fields under the designation of the Prime Minister.

Article 5. Tasks and powers of the Regional Coordinating Council

1. Advising and putting forwards suggestions to the Prime Minister on the mechanism, policies, master plans, plans, programs, schemes, tasks and projects which are organized within the region and uphold the regional connectivity as well as the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta region in response to climate change, including:

-TheMasterplanfor the Mekong Delta regionforthe 2021 - 2030 period, with visionstowards2050.

- The development contents for the region within the national 5-year socio-economic development plan.

-The List of programs and projectswhich are organized within the region and upholdregionalconnectivity.

-The plans to mobilize resources and allocateinvestment capitalsfor the Mekong Deltaregion; annualandmedium-term public investment plans for projectswhich are organized within the Mekong Delta region and upholdregionalconnectivity.

- Other domestic and international support sources fortheregionalconnectivity and thesustainable development of the Mekong Deltaregionin response to climate change.

2. Assisting the Prime Minister in directing the coordination, urging, inspecting and supervising ministries, sectors and localities in implementing the regional master plans, strategies, mechanisms, policies, master plans, plans, programs, schemes, projects and tasks which are organized within the region and uphold the regional connectivity as well as the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta region in response to climate change.

- Adopting the annual regional coordinating plan for the Mekong Delta region; giving opinions to competent agencies on the list of public investment programs and projects which are organized within the region and uphold the regional connectivity before submitting them to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision; handling problems in the regional connectivity and in coordination between ministries and provinces in the Mekong Delta region, and among provinces in the region; monitoring, and urging the settlement of problems which are inter-disciplinary and inter-regional.

- Providing guidance and support to localities in the region to deal with inter-provincial and inter-city issues within the competence of such localities in the region.

- Cooperating with Ho Chi Minh City and other regions in socio-economic development which upholdsinter-regional connectivity.

3. Other tasks and powers:

- Adopting plans to implement activities on the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta region. Organizing joint activities to promote investment, trade, tourism and communication of the region.

- Establishing coordinating sub-committees by sectors, fields or sub-regions (if necessary).

- Organizing the development of shared databases, setting up a regional information system; training high-quality human resources for the Mekong Delta region.

- Promoting and supporting the formation and development of Business Associations, Commodity Associations, Professional Associations, and Cooperative Unions of the entire Mekong Delta region.

- Deciding on the use of assigned financial resources and other resources to perform the Council’s functions, tasks and powers.

- Requesting ministries, ministerial-level agencies, Governmental agencies, municipal and provincial People s Committees in the Mekong Delta region, other relevant agencies and organizations to provide documents, information, data and reports, and to explain matters deemed necessary to perform the duties of the Council.

- Performing other tasks and powers as decided by the Prime Minister.

Article 6. The use of seal

1. The Chairman of the Regional Coordinating Council shall use the seal of the Prime Minister in documents when performing the tasks and powers of the Regional Coordinating Council and the tasks and powers of the Chairman of the Council.

2. The Vice Chairmen, Permanent Member and Members of the Regional Coordinating Council shall use the seal of their agencies to perform assigned tasks and powers.

Article 7. Operational funding

1. The funding for operation of the Regional Coordinating Council, including the operational funding for sub-committees (if any), Inspection or Supervision teams, the Regional Coordinating Council Office shall be included in the annual budget estimate of the Ministry of Planning and Investment from the funding sources of international organizations and shall be managed, paid and finalized in accordance with the provisions of the Law on State Budget and relevant legal documents. The Regional Coordinating Council Office shall be allowed to use the account and financial apparatus of the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

2. The operational funding of ministerial-level and sectoral coordinating teams shall be included in the annual budget estimate of ministries and sectors, from the funding sources of international organizations and shall be managed, paid and finalized in accordance with the provisions of the Law on State Budget and other relevant legal documents. These ministerial-level and sectoral coordinating teams shall be allowed to use the account and financial apparatus of such ministries and sectors.

3. The operational funding of municipal and provincial coordinating teams shall be included in the annual budget estimate of the Departments of Planning and Investment, from the funding sources of international organizations, and shall be managed, paid and finalized in accordance with the provisions of the Law on State Budget and relevant legal documents. These municipal and provincial coordinating teams shall be allowed to use the account and financial apparatus of such municipal and provincial Departments of Planning and Investment.

Article 8. Implementation provisions

1. To promulgate the Regulation on the operation of the Mekong Delta Regional Coordinating Council together with this Decision.

2. This Decision shall replace the Decision No.941/QD-TTgof the Prime Minister, dated June 25, 2015, on the establishment of the Coordinating organization for the development of key economic regions in the period 2015 - 2020 for the Mekong Delta key economic region.

3. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall take the prime responsibility and coordinate with relevant ministries, agencies, localities to summarize and report to the Chairman of the Regional Coordinating Council for the approval of the list of Vice Chairmen, and Members of the Regional Coordinating Council.

4. This Decision shall come into effect from the signing date. Ministers, Heads of Ministerial-level agencies, Heads of Governmental agencies, Chairpersons of municipal and provincial People’s Committees in the Mekong Delta region, and relevant agencies, organizations and individuals shall be responsible for implementing this Decision./.

The Prime Minister

Nguyen Xuan Phuc 

REGULATION

On the operation of the Mekong Delta Regional Coordinating Council for the 2020 – 2025 period

(Issued together with the Decision No.825/QD-TTgof the Prime Minister, dated June 12, 2020)

Article 1.This Regulation shall prescribe the operation and coordination of the Mekong Delta Regional Coordinating Council established by the Prime Minister in order to uphold the unity and synchronization for the realization of the sustainable development goals of the Mekong Delta region in response to climate change.

Article 2. Coordinating principles

1. To abide by the Party’s directions and guidelines, policies and laws on socio-economic development and to ensure national defense and security in the Mekong Delta region.

2. The contents and fields of coordination shall include the connectivity in socio-economic development of the Mekong Delta region, the coordination in the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta region in response to climate change, the coordination in implementing the Master Plan of the Mekong Delta region for the 2021 - 2030 period, with visions towards 2050.

3. To perform coordination based on the principle of consensus among ministries and sectors; between ministries, sectors and localities; and among localities in the region.

4. The prime responsibility in organizing the coordination shall be borne by the ministries, sectors or localities whose functions, tasks and powers are most related to the field or the tasks that need to be coordinated.

5. The coordinating activities shall be carried out through Regional Coordinating Council’s Meetings. Based on the contents of the socio-economic development guidelines and policies, the ministries, sectors and localities in the region shall discuss to reach a consensus and to jointly implement contents which involve cooperation and coordination.

6. For matters that have not been agreed upon or that exceed the deciding competence of ministries, sectors and localities in the region, the Regional Coordinating Council Office shall be responsible for summarizing opinions and reporting to the Chairman of the Council for consideration and decision or submitting to competent authorities for consideration and decision.

Article 3. Coordinating methods

1. For the Master Plan of the Mekong Delta region for the 2021-2030 period, with visions towards 2050:

- Regarding the coordination in the planning process: the formulation, appraisal and approval of plans must comply with law provisions on planning. In order to ensure uniformity in planning the Mekong Delta region, the agency in charge of the regional planning shall consult the Regional Coordinating Council and relevant ministries, sectors and localities before submitting to competent agencies for approval. Fields that need to be coordinated in the process of planning and implementing plans shall include: Connectivity in transport systems; informational infrastructure; clean water supply and use system; treatment of sewage, solid waste, and hazardous waste; production of major products; human resource development; vocational training institutions, colleges and universities; scientific research facilities; provincial hospitalsand handlings with environmental pollutions.

- Regarding the coordination in implementing the master plan: after the plan is approved by competent agencies, the Regional Coordination Council shall assist the Prime Minister in coordinating, urging, inspecting and supervising ministries, sectors and localities in implementing the master plan of the Mekong Delta region. Such ministries, sectors and localities shall, based on their assigned tasks, organize the implementation and be responsible for coordinating with the Regional Coordinating Council in supervising and inspecting the implementation of the regional master plan.

2. For the elaboration of mechanisms and policies on regional development:

Ministries and sectors, based on their assigned functions and tasks, shall study, formulate, promulgate or propose to the Government and the Prime Minister to promulgate mechanisms and policies under the State management scope of their respective ministries or sectors to apply to the Mekong River Delta. In order to ensure the consistency, synchronization, efficiency and compatibility with the master plan of the Mekong Delta region, the agency in charge of developing mechanisms and policies must consult the Regional Coordinating Council and relevant ministries, sectors and localities before submitting them to the competent agency for decision.

3. For the development of the Mekong Delta region within the national 5-year development plan:

The Regional Coordinating Council shall advise and propose suggestions on the development of the Mekong Delta region to the agencies which take the prime responsibility in the development and the finalization of the Socio-economic Development Strategy for the 2021 – 2030 period and the 5-year Socio-economic Development Plan for the 2021 – 2025 period.

4. For the development of the list of programs and projects which shall be organized within the region and uphold the regional connectivity:

The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall coordinate with the Regional Coordinating Council, ministries, sectors and localities to finalize a list of public investment programs and projects which shall be organized within the region and shall uphold the regional connectivity - to submit to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision.

5.For the planning on resource mobilization and capital allocation for the Mekong Delta region:

The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall coordinate with the Regional Coordinating Council, ministries, sectors and localities to consult and finalize the planning on resource mobilization, the planning on middle-term capital allocation for the 2021-2025 period for the Mekong Delta region and the planning on allocation of domestic and international support sources for the regional connectivity and the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta region in response to climate change – to submit to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision.

6. For the settlement of issues related to regional connectivity:

The Regional Coordinating Council shall coordinate between ministries and provinces in the region, and among provinces in the region to handle with issues related to regional connectivity; monitor and urge the settlement of inter-disciplinary issues in the Mekong Delta region; provide guidance and support to localities in the region to actively handle with inter-provincial issues under the competency of such localities in the Mekong Delta; coordinate with Ho Chi Minh City and other regions in cooperative socio-economic development which upholds inter-regional connectivity.

7. Plans for coordinating regional connectivity:

The Regional CoordinatingCouncilshalldevelopannualplans for coordinatingregionalconnectivityof the Mekong Delta toconsultrelevant ministries,sectorsand localitiesbeforereportingto the Prime Minister; organize joint activities to promote investment, trade, tourism and communication of the region at the request of ministries,sectorsand localities in the region; promote and support the formation and development ofBusiness associations andCommodityassociations,Professional associations andCooperativeunionsof the entire Mekong Delta region.

8. Regional information system database:

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, ministries, sectors and localities shall work with the Regional Coordinating Council to organize the development of a shared database and establish an information system of the Mekong Delta region for sustainable development and response to climate change, with connections to the database of the Mekong River Commission.

Article 4. Working regimes of the Regional Coordinating Council

1. The Regional CoordinatingCouncilshall workin accordance withthe collective regimein which discussions and opinions shall be exchanged to reach a consensus for the commoninterests of the region, andtheresponsibilityof the leader shall be stressed;the Chairmanof the Council shall makethe final conclusion.

2. The Regional Coordinating Council shall conduct regular meetingssemi-annually;and whennecessary, ad-hoc meetings can be held. The venue and method of the Council’smeetingsshall be decided by the Chairmanof the Council. Representatives of leaders of the Mekong River Commission of Vietnam,theChairmanof Ho Chi Minh City People s Committeeshall beinvited to attend the Council s meetings. Representatives ofrelevantagencies, organizations and individualsmightbe invited to attendthe Council’smeetingswhennecessary.

3. The Chairman of the Regional CoordinatingCouncilshallpreside over the Council’sactivities, convene andchairmeetings of the Council and the Standing Board of theCouncil. For urgent matters, the Chairman of the Council must consult the Council’s members in written form.

4. TheStanding Board of the RegionalCoordinating Council shall handle the regular affairs of the Council during the time the Regional Coordinating Council does not convene and shall report to the Council in the earliest meeting. The Standing Board of the Regional Coordinating Council shall conduct regular quarterly meeting; when necessary, ad-hoc meetings can be held under the decision of the Chairman of the Council. Representatives from relevant agencies, organizations and individuals might be invited to such meetings.

5.TheRegional CoordinatingCouncil shall establishteamsto inspect and supervise the implementation of lawprovisions, strategies, mechanisms, policies,masterplans, plans, programs, schemes, projects,andtaskswhich are organized within the region and uphold the regional connectivity as well as the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta region in response to climate change.

6. The Regional CoordinatingCouncilshallreportthe results of its activitiessemi-annuallyand annually to the Prime Minister.

Article 5. Tasks and powers of the Chairman, Vice Chairmen, Permanent Member and Members of the Regional Coordinating Council

1. The Chairman of the Regional Coordinating Council shall: direct and administer, recommend and propose suggestions to the Prime Minister on the organization and operation of the Regional Coordinating Council, and take responsibility before the Prime Minister for the activities of the Regional Coordinating Council.

2. The Permanent Vice Chairman –Minister of Planning and Investment shall:

- Assist the Chairman of the Council in preparing operational programs and contents of the Regional Coordinating Council, preside over the meetings of the Council and the Standing Board of the Council; chair meetings when authorized by the Chairman of the Council.

- Preside over working sessions with ministries, sectors and localities in the Mekong Delta region, on behalf of the Chairman of the Council, to address specific issues related to the regional and inter-regional connectivity as well as the regional planning of the Mekong Delta region.

- Sign the joint executive documents of the Regional Coordinating Council and the Standing Board of the Regional Coordinating Council, report to the Prime Minister and the Chairman of the Regional Coordinating Council for directions on the settlement of matters within their competence.

- Perform other tasks and powers as assigned by the Chairman of the Council.

3. The Vice Chairman – Minister of Natural Resources and Environment shall:

- Assist the Chairman of the Council in coordinating activities on natural resources, environment and the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta region in response to climate change.

- Preside over working sessions with ministries, sectors and localities in the Mekong Delta region, on behalf of the Chairman of the Council, to address the assigned issues and fields of work.

- Perform other tasks and powers as assigned by the Chairman of the Council.

4. The Vice Chairman – Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development shall:

- Assist the Chairman of the Council in coordinating activities on agricultural production, investment activities in irrigation works and natural disaster prevention which are organized within the region and uphold regional connectivity.

- Preside over working sessions with ministries, sectors and localities in the Mekong Delta region, on behalf of the Chairman of the Council, to address the assigned issues and fields of work.

- Perform other tasks and powers as assigned by the Chairman of the Council.

5. The Vice Chairman – Minister of Transport shall:

- Assist the Chairman of the Council in coordinating activities on the investment, management and operation of transportation projects which are organized within the region and uphold regional connectivity.

- Preside over working sessions with ministries, sectors and localities in the Mekong Delta region, on behalf of the Chairman of the Council, to address the assigned issues and fields of work.

- Perform other tasks and powers as assigned by the Chairman of the Council.

6. The Permanent Member shall:

- Direct the Regional Coordinating Council Office; organize activities of the Consultant Team of the Council; direct works on consulting, assisting, synthesizing, reporting, organizing the implementation of the operational programs and plans of the Regional Coordinating Council, the Standing Board, the Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of the Council; sign documents handling with administrative affairs of the Regional Coordinating Council.

- To perform other tasks and powers as assigned by the Chairman and the Permanent Vice Chairman of the Council.

7. Members of the Council shall:

- To attend all meetings and give official opinions of agencies, organizations, scientists, the business community that they represent at the Council s meetings and other activities of the Council. In case of absence, another authorized representative must be appointed and approved by the Chairman of the Council to replace the absent one.

- To perform tasks as assigned by the Chairman of the Regional Coordinating Council.

- To propose contents related to the regional connectivity, the sustainable development and adaptation to climate change to the Regional Coordinating Council, and the Standing Board of the Regional Coordinating Council.

- To propose mechanisms and policies to address difficulties confronting their respective sectors or localities in developing the region – to the Regional Coordinating Council, and the Standing Board of the Regional Coordinating Council to submit to competent agencies for consideration and decision.

- To use the apparatus and funding of the ministries and localities they represent to participate in the activities of the Regional Coordinating Council; to receive funding from the Council to cover operational expenses - in cases decided by the Chairman of the Council.

Article 6. Responsibilities of the ministries, ministerial-level agencies, Governmental agencies, municipal and provincial People’s Committees in the Mekong Delta region

The ministries, ministerial-level agencies, Governmental agencies, municipal and provincial People’s Committees in the Mekong Delta region shall perform their tasks and exercise their powers in accordance with the law provisions on management of sectors, fields and localities pertaining to the regional connectivity and the sustainable management of the Mekong Delta region in response to climate change, and shall, at the same time, be responsible for:

1. Appointing representatives, allocating time, assisting apparatusand fundings for representatives in the RegionalCoordinating Council under the Prime Minister s decision.

2. Providing relevant documents, information and data tothe RegionalCoordinating Council.

3. Working with, reporting and explaining to theRegionalCoordinating Council, the Council’s sub-committees, the Council’s Inspection and Supervision teams at their request.

4.  For the contents that require the consultation with theRegionalCoordinating Council before submitting to the competent agencies for decision and approval which are specified in Article 3 of this Decision, a written request for consultation must be sent to the Council at least 15 days before the date on which such contents are sent to the competent agencies.

5. Organizing the implementation of the Resolutions issued by the Regional Coordinating Council related to the regional connectivity of the Mekong Delta region, the sustainable development and adaptation to climate change.

6. Municipal and provincial People s Committees in the region shall be responsible for submitting to the People s Councils of the same level for consideration and decision on the use of local resources in conducting tasks which uphold regional connectivity; coordinate with the Permanent Member of the Council in arranging locations and creating favorable conditions for the Council to conduct meetings and other activities in their localities.

The municipal People’s Committee of Can Tho City shall be responsible for coordinating with ministries, sectors and localities in the Mekong Delta region in implementing the Council’s Resolutions which associate with the central position of the Mekong Delta region under the Politburo s Resolution No. 45-NQ/TW dated February 17, 2005 on the construction and development of Can Tho city in the period of national industrialization and modernization; direct the subordinate coordinating teams to take the prime responsibility or to coordinate in joint activities of the coordinating teams in the region in accordance with the guidance of the Regional Coordinating Council Office.

The People s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City shall be responsible for coordinating with the Regional Coordinating Council to implement the co-operative socio-economic development between Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta region and providing documents, information, data and reports to the Regional Coordinating Council.

Article 7. The assisting apparatus of the Regional Coordinating Council

1. The Regional Coordinating Council Office shall be located at the Ministry of Planning and Investment. The Regional Coordinating Council Office shall be responsible for advising and assisting the Regional Coordinating Council, the Standing Board of the Regional Coordinating Council, the Chairman, Vice Chairmen of the Council; providing guidance to and coordinating activities of Ministerial-level and Local-level coordinating teams under the direct direction of the Permanent Member of the Council.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment must ensure the sufficient manpower of the Regional Coordinating Council (including both full-time and part-time officers) to perform the assigned tasks. Leaders and officers of the Regional Coordinating Council shall be on the payroll of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and shall be decided and arranged by the Minister of Planning and Investment within the given quota of civil servants of the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

2. Ministries having representatives in the Regional Coordinating Council shall establish Ministerial-level Coordinating Teams

a) A Ministerial-level Coordinating Team shall be the assisting body for the Ministry and shall have the following tasks and powers:

- Studying and proposing to the Minister mechanisms and policies in sectors and fields under the Ministry’s management scope to meet the requirements in developing the Mekong Delta region as well as solutions to improve the coordination efficiency in developing regions;

- Assisting the Minister in coordinating agencies and units of such Ministry to perform the tasks in the development of the Mekong Delta region; cooperating with Provincial-level Coordinating Teams to promptly resolve the issues on regional connectivity under the management scope of such Ministry;

- Providing information related to the development policies of the sector, and the impact of the sector’s mechanisms and polices on the development of the Mekong Delta region;

- Monitoring, urging and assisting the Minister in settling coordination issues in the Mekong Delta region under the competence of such Ministry; summarizing and sending reports to the Regional Coordinating Council Office, and the Minister semi-annually and annually on the situation of implementing coordination tasks to develop the Mekong Delta region.

b) A Ministerial-level Coordinating Team shall be led by a leader of the unit in charge of advising on the planning and investment work of such Ministry and shall include a number of members with professional capacity and working experience. The Minister of such Ministry shall decide on the number of members and personnel of the Coordinating Team at the request of the Team Leader on the basis of the Ministry’s given workload.

3. The municipal and provincial People’s Committees in the Mekong Delta region shall establish Provincial-level Coordinating Teams

a)A Provincial-level Coordinating Team shall be the assisting body for the People’s Committee and the Chairperson of such municipal or provincial People’s Committee in the Mekong Delta region and shall have the following tasks and powers:

- Assisting the Chairperson of such municipal or provincial People’s Committee in directing their local agencies and units to perform coordination tasks to develop the Mekong Delta region; proposing suggestions to the Regional Coordinating Council to promptly address issues on regional connectivity;

- Receiving and associating contents from enterprises, industrial zones, economic zones and localities with each other;

- Monitoring, urging and assisting the Chairperson of such municipal or provincial People s Committee in settling coordination issues under the locality’s competence; summarizing and sending reports to the Regional Coordinating Council, the Regional Coordinating Council Office, the People s Committee, and the Chairperson of such municipal and provincial People s Committee semi-annually and annually on the situation of implementing tasks of coordinating the linkage in the Mekong Delta region;

- In addition to the aforementioned tasks and powers, the Coordinating Team under the municipal People s Committee of Can Tho City shall take the prime responsibility and coordinate a number of joint activities of Provincial-level Coordinating Teams in the region under the guidance of the Regional Coordinating Council Office.

b)A Provincial-level Coordinating Team shall be led by the Director of the Department of Planning and Investment of a province or municipality in the Mekong Delta region. The Chairperson of a municipal or provincial People s Committee shall decide on the number of members and personnel of such Provincial-level Coordinating Team at the request of the Team Leader based on the given workload of such locality.

4. The Regional Coordinating Council shall be able to establish Consultant Teams in fields pertaining to the functions, tasks and powers of the Council

5. The Regional Coordinating Office, Ministerial-level Coordinating Teams, Provincial-level Coordinating Teams shall be able to hire and order researches conducted by consultants, scientists, research and training institutions.

Article 8. Implementation

1. The Regional Coordinating Council shall be responsible for directing and urging the implementation of such Regulation; semi-annually and annually summarizing the implementation situation and proposing difficulties and problems that need to be addressed to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision

2. Ministers, Heads of Ministerial-level agencies, Heads of Governmental agencies, Chairpersons of municipal and provincial People’s Committees in the Mekong Delta region, and relevant agencies, organizations and individuals shall be responsible for implementing this Regulation./.