Vietnam Ministry of Finance proposes new national target program framework

The Ministry of Finance has submitted a draft decree to the Government outlining a new policy framework for the national target program for socio-cultural, rural, ethnic, and mountainous development for the 2026–2035 period. This program integrates four previous national target programs into a single comprehensive framework.

A key feature of the proposal is the strong decentralization of authority to local governments. Local authorities will have the autonomy to allocate resources, select implementation models, and manage specific investment projects within their assigned plans. The Ministry of Finance will maintain central oversight by coordinating and balancing the central budget.

Additionally, the Ministry is drafting a circular to guide the use of state budget funds to support cooperatives and cooperative unions. This includes funding for human resource development, information networks, market research, and financial consulting. Notably, the proposal includes provisions for supporting science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation, such as providing free consulting for digital solutions and assisting with intellectual property registration.