Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng has rejected a proposal by northern Hà Giang Province People’s Committee on a new office building worth about VNĐ700 billion (US$30 million).—  Photo vietnammoi.vn

HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng has rejected a proposal by northern Hà Giang Province People’s Committee on a new office building worth about VNĐ700 billion (US$30 million).

Dũng asked the province to listen to recommendations from ministries and agencies, saying “now is not the right time to build new office buildings for State agencies and organisations in the province.”

“Hà Giang province People’s Committee should examine, fix problems and improve working conditions for State administrative agencies there,” he said.

Earlier, the committee sent the Government a proposal on two new office buildings, each with 12 floors and a total area of nearly 30,000 sq.m.

The construction is estimated to cost about VNĐ700 billion.

The province asked the Government for financial assistance to carry out construction.

However, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Hà Giang must reconsider the need for new office buildings as it was still a disadvantaged province with poor financial capacity and a high rate of public debt.

The Ministry of Finance said that the province must pay more attention to efficiency and effectiveness of public spending on office projects.

By the end of last year, there were nearly 60,500 families, or over 34 per cent of total households in Hà Giang Province living under the poverty line. The province’s average personal income was VNĐ22.1 million per year while last year, Việt Nam’s national average personal income was VNĐ53.5 million.

Hà Giang province aims to become a key tourist attraction by 2020. It has majestic mountain landscapes and a UNESCO-recognised global geological park, as well as 19 ethnic groups living together with attractive festivals, natural and cultural heritages. The number of tourist arrivals to the province has risen consistently, and reached over 1 million with a revenue of nearly VNĐ1 trillion ($44 million) last year. — VNS