Dong Thap: Accelerating Public Investment from the Start of the Year

(DTO) Public investment is defined by Dong Thap Province as “catalytic capital,” which helps mobilize private investment and make a significant contribution to economic growth. 

To maximize the effectiveness of this resource, the province is taking decisive steps to speed up the disbursement of public investment funds right from the early months of the year.

PROACTIVE PROJECT OWNERS

In 2025, Dong Thap’s total public investment capital amounts to more than 16,392 billion VND. As of December 31, 2025, the province’s disbursement rate reached 84.8% of the planned allocation, higher than the national average.

This figure reflects the strong effort and determination of the province amid numerous intertwined difficulties and challenges. Project owners are now striving to disburse 100% of their 2025 capital plan by January 31, 2026.

Along with completing disbursement for the remaining 2025 capital, project owners are also urgently implementing the 2026 capital construction plan.

According to the Provincial People’s Committee, Dong Thap’s total public investment capital for 2026 is over 11,374 billion VND, including more than 9,428 billion VND from the local budget and over 1,946 billion VND from the central government budget.

The province has already allocated 100% of the 2026 public investment plan to project owners and localities, creating a foundation for immediate implementation and early-year disbursement, taking advantage of favorable weather conditions.

According to the Provincial Management Board for Civil and Industrial Construction Projects (referred to as the Civil Project Management Board), in addition to carry-over projects, the unit is expected to be assigned the preparation and implementation of 70 new projects in 2026.

Based on this, the Board will distribute and assign projects to specialized departments, ensuring balanced workloads across areas and enabling immediate execution once funding is allocated.

At the same time, it will strengthen the review and control of documentation during both the investment preparation and implementation phases, minimizing issues that may arise during construction.

The Civil Project Management Board will closely coordinate with local authorities in site clearance, promptly resolving obstacles, while also enhancing construction quality supervision, urging contractors to maintain progress, and conducting acceptance and handover procedures as scheduled, especially for key projects funded by the central government. It aims to fully disburse the allocated capital.

In 2025, the Provincial Management Board for Transport Construction Projects (referred to as the Transport Project Management Board) successfully disbursed 100% of its capital plan.
Building on this achievement, from early 2026, the unit continues to accelerate disbursement progress.

According to the Transport Project Management Board, in 2026 it will actively coordinate with relevant departments to implement new projects; while prioritizing the acceleration of site clearance for the access road to My Phuoc Industrial Cluster, the Dong Thap Muoi regional development road, the road connecting the rest stop area to the Trung Lương - My Thuan Expressway, and the acceptance and commissioning of Component Project 2 under Provincial Road 864. The unit will continue strengthening investment and construction management to ensure efficient use of capital, quality construction, and timely progress, striving to disburse 100% of its 2026 allocated budget.

The Provincial Management Board for Agricultural and Rural Development Construction Projects (referred to as the Agricultural Project Management Board) is also among the units that fully disbursed the public investment capital in 2025. Entering 2026, the unit remains determined to fulfill its assigned responsibilities.

According to Nguyen Dam Thanh Tuyen, Director of the Agricultural Project Management Board, in 2026 the unit will proactively coordinate with relevant agencies and work closely with central authorities to seek funding for urgent projects.

At the same time, it will collaborate closely with communes and wards on site clearance, strengthen construction quality supervision, ensure works are completed on schedule and in accordance with design standards, emphasize aesthetic elements, and promptly finalize completed projects.

“Our priority will be to shorten construction timelines for projects carried over from 2025 to 2026, and to quickly roll out the expansion of the Dong Thap Muoi Ecological Conservation Zone and the coastal erosion control project in Go Cong (from Rach Bun Bridge to Den Do area). We aim to fully disburse our allocated capital and thoroughly prepare investment proposals for projects planned for the year,” said Nguyen Dam Thanh Tuyen.

URGING FASTER PROGRESS

According to Nguyen Kim Tuyen, Director of the Dong Thap Department of Finance, based on central and provincial regulations, the finance sector has advised the Provincial People’s Committee to issue documents allocating the 2026 public investment cost estimates and the medium-term public investment plan for 2026-2030.

In the coming period, the Department of Finance will continue advising the Provincial People’s Committee to instruct project owners to prepare design documents and cost estimates in accordance with regulations, speed up site clearance, and expedite project approval and contractor selection so implementation can begin as early as possible.

The finance sector will also strengthen on-site inspections and supervision, promptly addressing obstacles, especially issues related to site clearance, compensation, resettlement support, and land procedures, while urging contractors to accelerate construction progress to ensure both schedule and quality.

“Project owners must develop detailed disbursement plans for each project based on their allocated capital and take full responsibility for monitoring construction progress. Public investment disbursement must be accelerated from the very first months of 2026, particularly for key projects, regional connectivity works, and expressways,” emphasized Nguyen Kim Tuyen.

According to the Provincial People’s Committee, to achieve the 2026 economic growth target of 8-8.5%, Dong Thap will continue implementing strong and comprehensive solutions to manage and utilize public investment effectively, accelerating disbursement right from the beginning of the year.

The province will focus on completing investment preparation and allowing project owners to advance capital from the 2026 Land Development Fund to support site clearance for projects, thereby enabling construction during the 2026 dry season.

Dong Thap continues to regard public investment disbursement as a key political task requiring the involvement of authorities at all levels and sectors from the start of the year.

The province will prepare the necessary conditions and promptly resolve obstacles in site clearance.

It will also develop implementation plans and disbursement schedules for each task and project under the 2026 public investment plan.

A key solution is to continue routinely reallocating capital plans within each project owner and among different project owners, thereby accelerating public investment disbursement and avoiding the year-end concentration of this activity.

By ANH THU
Translated by ANH DUC