Ministries should be allowed to sell their headquarters to increase the State budget, said Minister of Construction Trinh Dinh Dung.
The minister’s remark was in reply to questions from National Assembly Deputy Bui Ngoc Chuong of Ca Mau Province, about rumours that some ministries and Government agencies planned to sell their headquarters in the city centre and build new ones.
The Ministry of Transport plans to sell its current headquarter to build the new one at VND10 trillion (VND476.2 million)
Deputy Chuong asked the Dung about his opinion on the issue before the minister submits his proposal to the Prime Minister for approval.
In principle, ministries and Government agencies will receive funds from the State budget for building their headquarters. Due to budget limitations, however, Dung said that a number of state agencies should be permitted to sell or transfer their old headquarters to raise funds to build new ones, which would help modernise ministry and agency headquarters.
“The sale, purchase or transfer of headquarters must be done through legal channels, so as not to incur losses for the State," Dung added.
He also denied concerns over land use issues of old headquarters, saying that the land will be used in accordance with Hanoi's Master Plan through 2030 and a vision towards 2050, which was approved by the PM.
According to the land use plan, a number of State agencies’ headquarters in inner city areas will be moved to Me Tri in Tu Liem District and the West of West Lake in Tay Ho District.
He also disclosed that, the Ministry of Construction is seeking the PM’s permission for co-operating with other agencies and the Hanoi People’s Committee to work out plans for building headquarters of ministries and Government agencies.
The Ministry will also propose mechanisms on the use of old headquarters to the Government.
