Decision No. 1896/QD-BKHDT dated December 22th, 2017 by the Minister of Planning and Investment.

Article 1. Position and functions

The Foreign Economic Relations Department under the Ministry of Planning and Investment assists the Minister in performing the functions of foreign economic aggregation, State management over official development assistance (ODA) sources, concessional loans, foreign non-governmental aids, external relations with foreign partners and performing the task of socio-economic development cooperation with Lao People's Democratic Republic and the Kingdom of Cambodia, international economic integration, The Greater Mekong Sub-region Economic Cooperation Program (GMS), other regional cooperation initiatives under the Ministry’s management.

Article 2. Responsibilities

1. To study, participate in the formulation of socio-economic development strategies and master plans of the whole country, territorial master plans, 5-years and annual plans on the contents related to foreign economic relations, including general external economic relations, ODA, concessional loans and foreign non-governmental aids.

2. To study, participate in the formulation of strategies and plans for cooperation among Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, international economic integration, The GMS Economic Cooperation Program, other cooperative initiatives.

3. To preside over the drafting of orientations, strategies in the field of development cooperation; to draft and provide guidelines for legal documents in fields of external economic relations as assigned, including State management of ODA, concessional loans, foreign non-governmental aids and other related fields.

4. To coordinate with related ministries, branches, units within the Ministry to synthesize foreign economic relations to serve the Ministry leaders, the Government, and superior agencies.

5. To act as a focal point in the attraction, coordination and State management of ODA, concessional loans:

a) To preside over the drafting of strategies, policies, and orientation for ODA, concessional loans attraction and use for the Ministry to submit to the Government.

b) To assume the prime responsibility for preparing contents, organizing mobilization and coordination of sources of ODA and concessional loans in line with strategies and orientations for attraction and use of ODA and concessional loans.

c) To assume the prime responsibility for preparing contents and conducting the negotiation of framework international treaties on ODA, concessional loans; to report the conclusion of framework international treaties on ODA, concessional loans and specific international treaties on nonrefundable ODA according to law for the Ministry leaders to submit the Government; to report the conclusion of international agreements on ODA, non-refundable aids for the Ministry leaders to submit to the Prime Minister according to competence; 

d) To preside over and coordinate with related agencies to select proposal for programs, projects using ODA, concessional loans, nonrefundable aids that fall within the investment policy-deciding competence of the Prime Minister according to current regulations, to report to the Ministry leaders to submit to the Prime Minister for reviewing and approval; and report to the Ministry leaders to notify in writing the program or project proposals that the Prime Minister has allowed implementing formulation of pre-feasibility study report or investment policy proposal report to the authorities in charge for decision.

e) To guide the authorities in charge to formulate and submit to competent authorities for consideration and decision of the investment policies for programs and projects using ODA capital and concessional loans.

f) To act as a focal point to coordinate with the Ministry of Finance in determining the domestic financial mechanism for using ODA capital, concessional loans allocated or re-lent by the State budget; to coordinate with the Ministry of Finance in determining the re-lending conditions applicable to programs and projects using ODA capital and concessional loans.

g) To assume the prime responsibility for reviewing, synthesizing, adjusting and supplementing the medium- and annual public investment plans for programs and projects using ODA capital and concessional loans, report them to the Ministry leaders to submit to the competent authorities for approval.

h) To preside over and coordinate with units within the ministry which are in charge of the sectors, fields and programs in appraising investment policies for projects using ODA capital, concessional loans, except for important national projects and projects in Group A, submit to competent authorities for consideration and decision on investment policy of the programs, projects according to the law.

i) To preside over the appraisal of capital sources and capability to balance ODA capital, concessional loans of programs and projects according to its competence.

k) To preside over the appraisal of the documents of ODA technical assistance programs or projects falling under the approving competence of the Prime Minister in the assigned cases for the Ministry leaders to submit to the Prime Minister for approval, and technical assistance programs, projects, managed by the Ministry to submit to the Ministry leaders for approval; to participate in the appraisal of programs and projects using ODA capital, concessional loans falling under the approving competence of the Prime Minister.

l) To preside over and coordinate with units within the Ministry in monitoring and evaluating at the national    level the implementation of programs and projects using ODA capital and concessional loans; to inspect, monitor the implementation of master plans, plans, programs and projects using ODA capital, concessional loans; to synthesize and deploy the reporting regime of attraction, management and use of ODA capital, concessional loans and foreign non-governmental aids according to the law.

m) To act as a focal point in submitting to the Ministry leaders for handling according to competence or proposing the Prime Minister to handle matters related to many ministries, branches, and localities to ensure the implementation progress and promote disbursement of ODA capital and concessional loans.

n) To preside over the organizing of the implementation of synchronous measures to enhance the effectiveness of the management and use of ODA capital and concessional loans.

o) To coordinate with the Ministry Office in monitoring and evaluating programs and projects using ODA capital, concessional loans, and foreign non-governmental aids, which are assigned to the Ministry to implement directly.

p) To assume the prime responsibility for compiling and disseminating professional guidance documents on mobilization, preparation, appraisal, management of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programs and projects; assist in the training of program and project management toward a professional and sustainable manner.

6. To perform the tasks of the Deputy Head of the Secretariat assisting the National Steering Committee on ODA and concessional loans of the Government.

7. To perform State management duties over foreign non-governmental aids falling under the authority and management scope of the Ministry.

8. Regarding the cooperation with Laos and Cambodia:

a) To assist the Minister in performing duties of a Standing Unit, Chairman of the Vietnam Cooperation Committee in the Intergovernmental Committee on bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Laos; to act as the Secretary of Vietnam - Laos Cooperation Committee. To prepare strategies, treaties, and agreements on economic, cultural, scientific and technical cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, to formulate plans and organize the implementation of cooperation programs between Vietnam and Laos and between Vietnam and Cambodia on the basis of the signed strategies, treaties, agreements and minutes.

b) To study, synthesize mechanisms, policies and formulate long-term, 5-year and annual cooperation plans on economic, cultural, scientific and technical cooperation activities with Laos; to guide, inspect and urge ministries, branches and localities and report periodically on the implementation of the cooperation plans with Laos; to urge the implementation of programs, projects using the Vietnamese Government's ODA to the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

c) To perform standing duties to assist the Minister, Chairman of the Coordinating Committee of Vietnam on the Cambodia - Laos - Vietnam Development Triangle Area, proposed mechanisms, policies and measures for directing, operating, promoting economic cooperation in the CLV Triangle Area; to draft the programs, contents of cooperation, coordination of activities among the three countries of Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. To direct, inspect and urge the ministries, branches, and localities in the implementation of concluded agreements.

9. Regarding economic cooperation in Greater Mekong Sub-region and other collaborative initiatives:

a) To perform duties of the national coordinator of economic cooperation in Greater Mekong Sub-region and other collaborative initiatives;

b) To perform duties of the National Standing Secretary of economic cooperation in Greater Mekong Sub-region.

10. Regarding international economic integration and bilateral relations:

a) To act as a focal point for international economic integration within the areas assigned to the Ministry of Planning and Investment;

b) To preside over, act as a focal point in the participation in Intergovernmental Committees, Joint Committees on Economic Cooperation between Vietnam and other countries and international organizations.

c) To monitor, urge and report on the implementation of international integration tasks of units within the Ministry.

11. To perform other duties assigned by the Minister of Planning and Investment.

Article 3. Organizational structure

The Foreign Economic Relations Department has a Director General and the number of Deputy Directors General and works in accordance with the one-head regime combined with the specialist regime, the Department’s personnel is determined by the Minister of Planning and Investment.

The Foreign Economic Relations Department has the following functional divisions and boards:

1. General Affairs, International, and Non-governmental Organizations Cooperation Division;

2. Asia, America Cooperation and International Economic Integration Division;

3. Europe and Africa Cooperation Division;

4. International Financial Institution Cooperation Division;

5. Laos and Cambodia Cooperation Board.

The Director General shall specify the duties and payroll for each unit in the Department within the scope of the functions, responsibilities, and payroll assigned by the Minister.

Article 4. Entry into force 

This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing. The previously promulgated regulations which are contrary to this Decision are annulled.

Article 5. Implementation responsibilities

The Director General of the Organization and Personnel Department, the Chief of the Ministry Office, the Director General of the Foreign Economic Relations Department and Heads of relevant units directly under the Ministry are responsible for implementing this Decision./.

(English for reference only)

Ministry of Planning and Investment