The province’s delegation also included Lê Thành Đô, Chairman of the provincial People’s Council, and Lê Văn Lương, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee. They were received by Minister of Finance Nguyễn Văn Thắng, along with key department heads and representatives from Vietnam Electricity (EVN). The meeting served as both a progress report for the beginning of 2026 and a platform for Điện Biên to present several critical “bottleneck-clearing” proposals to the Government.

Lê Văn Lương opened the discussion by detailing the province’s socio-economic status and outlining urgent funding needs. A primary focus was the Sơn La - Điện Biên - Tây Trang Highway (Phase 1). The province requested that the Ministry of Finance report to the Prime Minister for the allocation of the 2025 budget surplus to begin investment preparations, with a firm commitment from the province to disburse 100% of the capital once assigned.

Additionally, the provincial leadership pushed for the early appraisal of an ODA-funded inter-regional irrigation system designed for climate change adaptation and requested VND 154.4 billion in central support for cadastral mapping and land registration. Looking toward the 2026-2030 period, Điện Biên also emphasized the need for a new decree to replace Decree No.57/2018/NĐ-CP to better incentivize agricultural investment, noting a requirement of approximately VND 500 billion for their spearhead agricultural projects.

The dialogue turned significantly toward energy, where Điện Biên revealed a massive untapped potential of roughly 10,000MW beyond the current Power Plan VIII. Consequently, the province asked for an additional 980MW to be integrated into the 2026-2030 phase. Pointing out that Điện Biên remains the only locality without a 220kV transmission grid, the delegation urged for prioritized investment in power stations and requested VND 103 billion from EVN to finalize rural electrification. To complement the province’s push for “green and smart” urban development, they also proposed that EVN fund the undergrounding of power lines in the core wards of Điện Biên Phủ and Mường Thanh to enhance tourism aesthetics.

Trần Tiến Dũng reinforced these points by requesting a “room” adjustment in power planning to allow current growth to accelerate. He also addressed administrative concerns regarding the highway project, noting that while the province has already prepared for a May 7 ground-breaking for land clearance, recent questions regarding the managing authority needed immediate resolution to avoid redundant procedures.

Minister Nguyễn Văn Thắng responded with decisive support, confirming that the Ministry would formally unify with the decision to designate Điện Biên as the competent state agency for the highway. He assured that VND 100 billion from the budget surplus would be allocated for initial steps, with further needs balanced in the mid-term investment plan.

The Minister also committed to the highest level of central support for cadastral mapping, provided the province secures a 10% counter-fund. Regarding energy, he pledged to coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to expedite adjustments to the power plan. Most importantly for the residents, the Minister directed EVN to resolve the VND 103 billion funding gap to ensure that 100% of Điện Biên’s population has access to electricity by the end of 2026, bolstered by the KOICA-funded “Lighting up Điện Biên” project. This session underscored a strong partnership between the central and provincial levels, aiming to turn Điện Biên into a modern, energized, and well-connected hub in the Northwest.