Ministry to draft framework on exploitation of natural resources

Laws - Newly-appointed Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Minh Quang spoke with Vietnam News Agency about the ministry's future plans.

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry two years ago put into action a strategy to raise contribution values to the country's economic growth. How will the strategy be implemented in the future?

As Vietnam's economy is reliant on the exploitation of natural resources, their contributions to economic growth and the State budget have decisive meaning.

A project that the ministry submitted to the Government for approval will basically shape theory and practices, complete building of an overall policy frame, itinerary and implementation plans by 2013.

Between 2014 and 2020, the ministry will focus on building concrete solutions to innovate the management of natural resources, protect the environment in accordance with a socialist oriented market economy and reject the ‘ask and give' mechanism. This is a big, strategic issue relevant to different parties and needs support from ministries, cities and provinces. Therefore it needs time to implement given contents.

The revised Land Law is being completed and will be submitted to the National Assembly for approval by the end of this year. What do you expect from the law?

The amendment of the land law this time must address unsolved problems in existing land use and management. It must simultaneously bring land resources into play in order to serve the country's socio-economic development.

The summarization of Resolution 26-NQ/TW and the issuance of a new resolution on land issue is expected at a NA session on April 2012. It will present points of view on land management issues, and orient the amendment of the Land Law with focus on its major goals.

Specifically, the revised land law must closely manage, sparingly use and make more efficient the resources in a sustainable way. The law must satisfy demand for socio-economic development in industrialization and modernization of the years to come. It must ensure harmonious interests between the State and people whose land is retrieved. Creating a clean land fund is also necessary to generate income by putting up land use rights at auctions and putting land use projects out to tender. It is needed to reduce and gradually reject the ‘ask and give' mechanism in land allocation and lease.

Administrative procedures need to be continuously reformed to ensure publicity, transparency and convenience for people and business when implementing administrative procedures and supervising State agencies. It is necessary to strengthen supervision and inspection in order to reduce complaints and denunciations on land use issues while raising the responsibility of organizers.

What measures are most needed to manage, exploit and use mineral resources effectively?

The Mineral Law which was approved by the National Assembly last year has many specific regulations to ensure strategies, plans, explorations, exploitations and use of mineral resources.

Accordingly, it is imperative to work out duties and measures in mineral resources exploration and exploitation, processing, reasonable use and preservation of mineral resources.

Similarly, in the exploration of mineral resources, it is a must to sufficiently assess the reserve and quality of all mineral products on explored areas. Mineral resource exploitation must apply advanced technology in accordance with the size and characteristics of every mine and type of mineral resources in order to exploit both minerals and their by-products.

The State encourages investment projects on mineral resource exploitation in combination with processing and using minerals to produce mental products, alloys and other valuable products.

Besides punishing crimes in the violation of mineral resource exploration and exploitation in accordance with the Criminal Law, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is completing a draft decree to impose an administrative fine on mineral exploration and exploitation violations. It is also essential to reward individuals and organizations for reasonable and economical use of mineral resources.

What specific steps will the ministry take to improve its management over natural resources and environment?

The ministry has set a target to ensure all natural resources are closely managed and contribute to the country's socio-economic development. It has been concentrating on building a synchronous legal corridor to create a solid foundation for adjustment and management of activities related to natural resources and the environment.

To do so, the sector will focus on continuously implementing the positive outcomes of current policies and mechanisms in combination with discovering shortcomings for amendments and applying innovative models to keep pace with the country's development tempo and international integration process. It will also raise the contributions of natural resources and environmental values to socio-economic development. Improving effectiveness and efficiency of State management of natural resources and the environment continues to be one of its key orientations. The sector also needs a contingent of well-trained policy-making officials and employees.