NA official rejects Minister's denial of responsibility in Vinashin case

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The Minister of Planning and Investment claimed the agency played no role in the downfall of ship building giant Vinashin, a position countered by an NA official.

Minister Phuc denies the MPI’s responsibility in Vinashin case

Minister of Planning and Investment (MPI) Phuc said the MPI acted as an advisor for the government in Vinashin’s development strategies, adding that the MPI had fulfilled its duties for Vinashin.

Phuc highlighted that the Law on Enterprises 2003 allows boards of directors and general directors to have rights to decide major plans of their firms. This hindered the ministry from intervening in their internal work.

It would be against the law if the ministry intervenes in their decisions, Phuc explained, noting that, therefore, “We are not accountable for Vinashin’s failure and we do not necessarily assume it.”

Phuc concluded that Vinashin is a general lesson for the government, the NA and the party in the pilot establishment of economic groups. He also emphasised the importance of making comprehensive laws to avoid the case like the Law on Enterprises 2003.

Opposing Phuc’s answer, Nguyen Van Thuan, Chairman of the NA Law Committee, said when the Politburo started the pilot establishment of economic groups, the MPI, a state management agency in enterprises, had to submit the revisions of the law or a resolution on Vinashin’s operation to the NA. “You have said the MPI faced the law barrier to intervene with the shipbuilder. But, last year, we revised many laws. Why did the ministry not report Vinashin’s problems to the NA for settlement although it knew what they were?” Thuan elaborated.