Based on the research content of the design consultant and incorporating opinions from the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Finance, Điện Biên province reported the proposed project investment plan with the main scale: Construction of the Sơn La - Điện Biên - Tây Trang Border Gate expressway section (Phase 1), with the starting point at the boundary between Điện Biên and Sơn La provinces, and the endpoint connecting to Điện Biên Phủ ward. The scale includes 4 complete lanes and 2 emergency stopping lanes. The project uses public investment capital, with a preliminary total investment of about VND 23,252 billion.

Currently, public investment laws allow assigning a locality as the governing body to implement expressway investments passing through two or more localities. However, for expressway investments within a single locality, there is no specific regulation assigning that locality as the governing body. Therefore, Điện Biên province petitioned the Prime Minister to consider and decide on assigning the People’s Committee of Điện Biên province as the governing body to implement the investment project for the Sơn La - Điện Biên - Tây Trang Border Gate expressway section.

At the meeting, Deputy Minister of Construction Lê Anh Tuấn stated that to have a full legal basis for implementation, the Ministry of Construction has submitted a draft decree amending and supplementing Decree No.165/2024/ND-CP detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Roads and Article 77 of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety. It stipulates that in cases serving socio-economic development, based on local proposals, localities are assigned to manage and invest in the construction of routes, including national highways and expressways.

The representative of the Ministry of Finance argued that assigning a locality as the governing body for expressway investment within a single locality does not violate the Law on Public Investment and faces no jurisdictional obstacles; the synthesis and allocation of capital are still carried out according to the medium-term public investment plan.

Concluding the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister agreed on the policy of assigning Điện Biên province as the governing body for the investment of the Sơn La - Điện Biên - Tây Trang Border Gate expressway section, implemented in accordance with public investment laws, relevant decrees (including the Decree amending and supplementing Decree No.165/2024/ND-CP), as well as construction and road laws.

Điện Biên province needs to prepare an investment plan in the role of the investor. The Ministry of Finance is responsible for balancing and allocating public investment capital according to regulations.

Also at the meeting, after hearing leaders of Sơn La province and the Ministry of Construction report on the Mộc Châu - Sơn La expressway investment project, the Deputy Prime Minister agreed on the policy of assigning Sơn La province as the governing body for the investment of this expressway section to synchronize deployment and effectively exploit the Mộc Châu - Sơn La - Điện Biên - Tây Trang Border Gate expressway route.