To resolve difficulties and obstacles, provincial leaders frequently conduct on-site inspections, require relevant units and localities to report issues, and provide solutions to accelerate progress. The main reason for the delays is complications in land clearance compensation and support, leading to a lack of construction sites.

Delayed project completion and slow disbursement result in inefficient use of investment capital. In the first three months of the year, the overall disbursement rate for investment projects in the province has fallen behind schedule, reaching only 16.13% of the plan. The disbursement rate for funds under the three national target programs: Sustainable poverty reduction, new rural development, and socio-economic development for ethnic minority and mountainous areas, has reached only 3.45% of the plan. Many completed projects have been put into operation but have yet to submit final settlement reports, causing prolonged outstanding debts and difficulties in asset management after investment.

A review shows that 110 completed projects in the province have yet to submit final settlement reports, 233 projects have had their settlements approved, and 42 projects have submitted documents but are still awaiting approval. Most project delays are due to land clearance issues, difficulties in defining project boundaries, and public disagreements over compensation policies. The situation of stalled projects and slow public investment disbursement is a nationwide issue and was discussed at a government meeting on March 30, 2025, where solutions to address these obstacles were proposed.

According to the Ministry of Finance, as of March 25, a total of 1,533 projects nationwide are facing difficulties and obstacles. Among them, 338 are public investment projects, 1,126 are off-budget investment projects, and 69 are public-private partnership (PPP) projects. Additionally, businesses have reported 12 projects encountering difficulties to the Ministry of Finance. The ministry has preliminarily categorized the obstacles into 17 issue groups and classified them according to the level of authority responsible for resolution, including the National Assembly, the Government, the Prime Minister, ministries, and localities.

Concluding the meeting, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính emphasized that the most crucial goal is to resolve bottlenecks and long-standing issues in stalled projects to prevent waste of state, social, public, and private resources. For land clearance-related issues, the Prime Minister directed local authorities, especially grassroots levels, to thoroughly resolve problems related to site clearance. He urged them to base decisions on legal regulations, local conditions, and financial capacity to ensure appropriate support while safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the people. He also stressed the need for fair and reasonable policies for vulnerable groups while enforcing strict penalties against those who deliberately violate regulations, delay processes, or resist land clearance efforts.

Immediately after the meeting, on March 31, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính signed Official Telegram No.26/CĐ-TTg, directing ministries and localities to promptly review and report on investment projects facing prolonged difficulties and backlogs in the national public investment system. The deadline for completion is set for April 10, 2025. After this date, the database system will stop accepting additional information; ministers, agency heads, and provincial and city chairpersons who fail to update project information will be considered as having no unresolved issues to report and will be held accountable before the Government and the Prime Minister.

For Điện Biên, project delays and low disbursement rates remain critical issues requiring urgent resolution, particularly in land clearance efforts. Even key projects and some completed projects face delays in finalizing settlement procedures due to challenges in land clearance and land-use conversion. During on-site inspections of key projects in Điện Biên Phủ city and Điện Biên district, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Lê Thành Đô concluded that project implementation and construction progress remain slow, and site clearance has not been fully completed. Coordination among investors, surveying consultants, and local authorities in verifying land origins and compensation plans remains inadequate, with compensation policies facing inconsistencies and unresolved issues.

To achieve the goal of 100% public investment capital disbursement in 2025, the provincial People’s Committee has instructed specialized project management boards, authorities in Điện Biên Phủ city and Điện Biên district, and relevant agencies to enhance accountability and urgently implement effective solutions to overcome difficulties and accelerate project progress. Regarding land clearance, authorities will intensify communication and mobilization efforts to gain consensus from organizations and individuals. The timely preparation and approval of compensation plans, ensuring the correct identification of beneficiaries for compensation and resettlement, must strictly comply with legal regulations. For cases of deliberate non-compliance or obstruction, authorities will consolidate records and enforce compulsory measures where necessary. The Provincial People’s Committee has outlined specific solutions and assigned responsibilities for resolving land clearance issues in key projects. Project investors and local authorities must closely coordinate efforts in compensation, site clearance, and land handover to contractors to expedite progress.

Clear responsibilities, well-defined solutions, strict deadlines, and enhanced supervision will help accelerate project implementation, prevent delays in public investment disbursement, and eliminate the issue of capital stagnation due to pending land clearance. Faster project implementation with guaranteed quality will attract investment resources and play a crucial role in driving the province’s economic growth towards its set targets.