Deputies at the fourth session of the 13th National Assembly yesterday discussed the Government's socio-economic development plan in 2012 and for next year.

State budget spending this year, and estimate's for next year's budget and allocation were also included on the NA's agenda.

Most of the deputies shared the view that the Government needed to have an itinerary and specific solutions for each issue in order to solve current economic problems.  

 Workers at an industrial clothing warehouse in My Phuoc 3 Industrial Park of Binh Duong Province. The garments industry is a key field stabilising the country's economy against the global downturn.

Regarding the Government's report on socio-economic development in 2012 and development plan for 2013, Pham Huy Hung, a deputy from Ha Noi, said the report should have been more comprehensive, embracing policies to remove difficulties in the economy, surplus stock, and instability in the financial system and the stock market.

While agreeing with the Government's report, Tran Hoang Ngan from HCM City said Viet Nam's economy was affected by the world economic downturn so it would be very difficult to reach the target of 5.2 per cent GDP growth for the year.

The number of enterprises which dissolved and stopped operating remained high, causing high unemployment, he said.

"The situation puts pressure on social security."

He suggested the Government should focus on solving bad debt which blocked the economy.

From HCM City, deputy Truong Trong Nghia asked the Government to clarify why it could not reach the social investment target.

Nghia also expressed his concern over the property market where 70,000 apartments equivalent to VND70 trillion (US$3.36 billion) were vacant. Deputy Nguyen Ngoc Hoa from HCM City raised the question on banking operations. He cited statistics that the money mobilised from people increased by 12.7 per cent but credit loans increased by only 2.5 per cent in recent months, and did not increase earlier this year.

"Enterprises claim they find it hard to access bank loans. So where did the money go? Can the money mobilised from people pour into production?" he questioned.

Exports in the first nine months of the year increased by 18.9 per cent but growth was only recorded in companies with foreign direct investment. Hoa concluded that domestic enterprises were shrinking and faced the possibility of losing their market shares.

From HCM City, Tran Du Lich said the economic situation in 2012 was due to the consequences of difficulties over the past five years.

According to Lich, past solutions were only temporary, and Viet Nam was still in need of comprehensive measures to curb its trade surplus and inflation.

While agreeing with the Government's three strategic solutions relating to institution, human resources and infrastructure, Lich asked for concrete solutions.

In the short term, Lich said the Government must solve bursting inventories, and help domestic enterprises to lower prices to encourage purchasing.

Deputy Tran Quoc Tuan from the southern province of Tra Vinh expressed his doubts about the target to keep inflation at 8 per cent, arguing that the consumer price index (CPI) tended to increase in the last months of the year.

State budget

Nguyen Dinh Quyen of Ha Noi said State budget allocation remained scattered and unreasonable. There was no source for pay rises or resolving economic difficulties.

Nguyen Huu Quang from central Thanh Hoa Province shared Quyen's view that State budget allocation and implementation remain unsynchronised.

Our policy is focused on people, but in the salary reform itinery there is not the VND60 trillion ($2.88billion) we need to do it", he said.

Many deputies shared the idea that the Government should balance sources to ensure salary increases in 2013. If the State budget was not enough, the Government should give priority to retirees and other welfare recipients.

Also according to Quang, State budget allocation between central and local levels remained unreasonable. At present, 76 per cent of the budget was allocated to provinces and cities. So the remaining 24 per cent for the central level was not enough for important national projects, he explained.

National Reserves Law

Later yesterday, Assembly deputies discussed major issues in the Draft Law on National Reserves, including the resources it set aside for emergencies.

Deputies said the law should be renamed the Law on State Reserves as the definition of national reserves in the draft law was State reserves. It was under the State's management, without the participation of other economic sectors such as enterprises, business households or individuals.

Most of the deputies agreed with narrowing national reserves targets needed to prevent and overcome the consequences of natural disasters and epidemics and to implement urgent tasks of the State.

Deputy Tran Van Minh, from northern Quang Ninh Province, said national reserves should be partly used for market stabilisation. He suggested the content of market stabilisation should be added to the law.

In terms of policies covering public servants working on national reserves, many deputies agreed the jobs were difficult. Most stockpiles were in remote areas and working hours were 12-15 hours a day or even around-the-clock during natural disasters. Thus, they should have supportive policies.

Deputies also discussed the management structure of national reserves, the list of national reserves and the principles of moving goods to and from the national reserves./.

 (CPV/VNS)