HCMC – The Communist Party of Vietnam’s Central Committee has approved a plan to cut the number of government ministries to 14, that of ministerial-level agencies to three and that of government entities to five.
The government streamlining plan got endorsed during the plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee held in Hanoi on January 23-24.
The 14 ministries retained are National Defense, Public Security, Justice, Industry and Trade, Culture-Sports-Tourism, Foreign Affairs, Education and Training, Health, Finance, Construction, Agriculture and Rural Development, Science and Technology, Home Affairs, and Ethnic and Religious Affairs.
The three ministerial-level agencies are the Government Office, Government Inspectorate, and the State Bank of Vietnam.
The five government-affiliated entities are the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, and Vietnam News Agency.
The restructuring plan eliminates five ministries, three ministerial-level agencies, 13 general departments, and thousands of department-level offices, marking a 22.7% reduction in central-level institutions. The move aligns with Resolution 18-NQ/TW, which as issued in 2017 to push for a leaner and more efficient political system.
The new structure eliminates all general departments within ministries, leaving 299 departments after restructuring. Additionally, public service units will be streamlined, retaining only those necessary for state management, with a total of 203 public service entities removed, a 38% reduction.
To facilitate the changes, the government will allow for a temporary increase in the number of deputy-level officials, with ministries and agencies required to develop plans to meet standard staffing quotas within five years.
The restructured Government is expected to improve coordination between central and local authorities, enhancing public service delivery and addressing national and local development needs in a more agile and accountable manner, ensuring no overlap or redundancy in responsibilities post restructuring.
