Challenges in disbursing public investment capital

Achieving 100% disbursement of public investment capital is one of the key tasks for Dong Nai province to reach its goal of double-digit economic growth in 2025. However, accomplishing this will require significant effort to "resolve" a host of challenges amid a rapidly shrinking timeline.

Workers construct the Bien Hoa Ward Central Axis Road Project. Photo: Pham Tung

Disbursement rate of capital is still modest

In 2025, the total public investment capital planned for the province is over 36.5 trillion VND, with nearly 32 trillion VND allocated under the Prime Minister’s directive.

According to the Department of Finance, as of the end of September, total public investment capital disbursed in the province reached nearly 13 trillion VND, equivalent to over 36% of the capital plan assigned by the province and more than 40% of the plan allocated by the Prime Minister.

If the capital plan of over 9.2 trillion VND, comprising more than 8 trillion VND for the Gia Nghia - Chon Thanh section of the North-South Expressway (Western route), which the National Assembly has allowed to extend disbursement until the end of 2026, and 1.2 trillion VND in newly allocated supplementary capital, is excluded, the disbursement rate under the Prime Minister’s capital plan reaches 57%.

Thus, if calculated according to the Prime Minister's capital plan and excluding the capital of over 9.2 trillion VND for the Gia Nghia - Chon Thanh section of the North-South Expressway (Western route) and the newly allocated additional capital, in less than 3 months remaining in 2025, Dong Nai province must disburse over 9.7 trillion VND. This endeavor will complete the goal of 100% disbursement of the 2025 public investment capital plan allocated by the Prime Minister.

However, achieving this goal is facing many challenges, as the progress of public investment capital disbursement in September is showing signs of slowing down.

Tran Anh Tu, Deputy Director of the Department of Finance, stated that in the last 20 days of September 2025, a total of 1.05 trillion VND in public investment capital was disbursed in the province, accounting for more than 3% of the capital plan. During this period, the unit with the highest disbursement was Project Management Board Region 6, with over 544 billion VND disbursed. Meanwhile, 12 units recorded no disbursement at all. The data indicates that the disbursement pace among investors remains very slow.

Assessing the pace of public investment capital disbursement in the last 20 days of September 2025, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Vo Tan Duc remarked that a disbursement rate of just over 3% of the capital plan is a very modest figure.

Over 3 trillion VND must be disbursed each month

According to Vo Tan Duc, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, public investment capital disbursement is one of the key tasks directed by the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee. However, the disbursement rate so far has yet to meet the set expectations.

Construction of Component Project 1, Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway Project, section passing through the province

Emphasizing that completing 100% disbursement of the public investment capital plan as allocated by the Prime Minister in 2025 is a mandatory task, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee stated: The entire political system needs to be more proactive and decisive to complete the task. "The remaining time in 2025 is not much, while the remaining capital to be disbursed is exceptionally large. Each month, Dong Nai province must disburse over 3 trillion VND," emphasized Vo Tan Duc, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

Therefore, Chairman Vo Tan Duc requested that all investor units submit to the Department of Finance, no later than October 15, a detailed Gantt chart for capital disbursement for each project, clearly identifying any obstacles and proposed solutions to recover disbursement progress. The Office of the Provincial People's Committee is responsible for monitoring implementation progress according to the Gantt charts committed by the units.

According to the Department of Finance, in October 2025, the unit will continue to monitor the actual implementation of projects and propose to the Provincial People's Committee the establishment of a delegation to address difficulties and obstacles during the implementation process.

Relevant units must coordinate with localities to address any difficulties and obstacles encountered during site clearance. Commune and ward leaders are responsible for site clearance for projects passing through their jurisdictions. The Department of Home Affairs, in coordination with the Department of Finance, will propose a mechanism to evaluate and take action against the heads of units that are slow in disbursing public investment capital. "In particular, project owners must strictly handle and terminate contracts with contractors who fail to meet project progress," requested Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Vo Tan Duc.

Dinh Tien Hai, Deputy Director in charge of the Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board, stated: In September 2025, due to heavy rainfall, the construction of projects encountered numerous difficulties, which impacted the progress of capital disbursement. Therefore, in October 2025, the unit also requested contractors to implement solutions to catch up on progress. "The Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board commits to completing 100% disbursement of public investment capital allocated in 2025," Dinh Tien Hai said.

Similarly, a representative of the Provincial Land Fund Development Center, one of the project owners, had allocated a substantial amount of capital and committed to completing the disbursement of all allocated capital by 2025.

By Pham Tung – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho