Government plans 8.22 quadrillion dong in public investment for 2026-2030

From now until 2030, the government proposes a total public investment capital of 8.22 quadrillion dong, about 2.7 times higher than the amount implemented in the previous five years. On the afternoon of April 9, by authorization of the Prime Minister, Finance Minister Ngo Van Tuan submitted to the National Assembly the medium-term public investment plan for the 2026-2030 period. Under the plan, the total medium-term public investment capital would be 8.22 quadrillion dong, of which 3.8 quadrillion dong comes from the central budget and 4.22 quadrillion dong from local budgets. Regarding central-budget allocation, the government proposes using about 2.78 quadrillion dong for projects (belonging to the Party’s Central Committee Action Program, key projects, national strategies, and other tasks of ministries and localities). Nearly 29.69 trillion dong will be allocated to the Ho Chi Minh City Beltway 4 project. This is a nationally important project that will begin in the 2026-2030 period, with the central-budget structure for total investment clearly delineated. The government aims to reserve 10% (380 trillion dong). About 349 trillion dong will be spent on urgent public-investment projects, ongoing domestic capital projects, recovery of prepaid funds, and debt settlement. Earlier, the National Assembly approved the policy for investment in five nationally important projects for the next five years with total capital needs exceeding 1.1 quadrillion dong. In addition to Beltway 4 Ho Chi Minh City, the other four projects are the North-South high-speed railway (841.709 trillion dong), Lào Cai - Hà Nội - Hải Phòng railway (167.786 trillion), Quy Nhơn - Pleiku Expressway (42.384 trillion), and Vinh - Thanh Thủy Expressway (22.429 trillion). To ensure the goals of the medium-term public investment are met, the government said it would select investment projects on the basis of a full assessment of economic, financial, and socio-economic effectiveness. The administrator also aims to continue improving the quality of the institutional framework for public investment management. Five years ago, the National Assembly approved public investment at 2.87 quadrillion dong, with more than half from the central budget. The government allocated central-budget funds to 4,652 projects (50% lower than the previous period). As of the end of 2025, disbursement of public investment is estimated at 3.02 quadrillion dong (exceeding the plan due to local budgets rising from higher revenue and land-use fees). In reviewing this, the Chair of the Economic and Financial Committee Phan Van Mai said he agrees with the government’s proposal. The committee notes that the projected capital of 8.22 quadrillion dong is consistent with the five-year national financial plan and the debt-borrowing plan through 2030. The reviewing body recommends that the government review the plan to ensure feasibility and enhance contingency measures. “Borrow for investment within repayment capacity, not placing excessive debt pressure on later periods,” the Economic and Financial Committee notes. Parliament will discuss the medium-term public investment plan in committees on April 9-10 and in the chamber on April 21. Two days later, Parliament will vote to approve the draft resolution.