DECISION

APPROVING THE SCHEME ON THE SYNCHRONOUS RENEWAL OF STATISTICAL INDICATOR SYSTEMS

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the December 25, 2001 Law on Organization of the Government;
Pursuant to the June 26, 2003 Law on Statistics and the Government's Decree No. 40/ 2004/ND-CP of February 13,2004, detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Statistics;
At the proposal of the Minister of Planning and Investment,

DECIDES:

Article 1. To approve the Scheme on the synchronous renewal of statistical indicator systems with the following major contents:

I. OBJECTIVES

To synchronously renew and apply statistical indicator systems and form a consistent, smooth and effective national statistical indicator system which conforms to international standards and practices for the provision of accurate, sufficient and timely statistical information, meeting the requirement of analyzing and evaluating the socio-economic situation in service of the leadership, direction and administration by Party and State agencies; and the formulation of national, ministerial, sectoral and local socio­economic development strategies and plans by individuals and organizations.

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1. The synchronous renewal of statistical indicator systems must strictly adhere to six fundamental principles of statistical activities provided in the Law on Statistics, namely: (i) ensuring honesty, objectivity, accuracy, completeness and timeliness in statistical activities; (ii) ensuring independence in statistical performance; (iii) ensuring consistency regarding indicators, forms, methods of calculation, classi­fication, units of measurement, statistical years and international comparability; (iv) avoiding duplication and overlap of statistical surveys and reporting regulations; (v) publicizing statistical methodologies and information; (vi) ensuring equal access to and use of statistical information already publicized by the State: and statistical information on each organization or individual is used only for the statistical synthesis purpose.

2. The synchronous renewal of statistical indicator systems covers the national; ministerial and sectoral as well as provincial, district and commune statistical indicator systems, making them comprehensive and consistent. The renewal of statistical indicator systems must also go in parallel with the comprehensive renewal of statistical activities. Renewal results must serve as an important basis for the formulation of Vietnam's statistics development strategy during 2011- 2020 with a vision to 2025.

3. The synchronous renewal of statistical indicator systems shall be conducted on the basis of further promoting the centralized statistical systems; enhancing the role and responsibilities of statistical organizations of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuracy (below referred collectively as ministerial and sectoral statistics); raising the quality and effectiveness of statistical information sources gathered and aggregated by grassroots statistical organizations so as to form a consistent, smooth and effective national statistical information system.

4. The synchronous renewal of statistical indicator systems is required to meet the national development requirements while creating pro-activeness for the statistical sector's deeper integration into international statistics. Based on an appropriate roadmap. to ensure high feasibility of the new statistical indicator systems.

5. The synchronous renewal of statistical indicator systems must be associated with the renewal of statistical activities; improvement of organizational apparatus, ensuring human resources and legal environment, modernizing material and technical foundations as well as other conditions for the prompt and fruitful realization of the contents of renewal.

III. CONTENTS OF RENEWAL

1. To renew, supplement and improve the national statistical indicator system

The national statistical indicator system, promulgated by the Prime Minister together with Decision No. 305/2005/QD-TTg of November 24, 2005, with 274 statistical indicators in 24 groups of sectors and socio-economic areas, has played a leading role in the country's overall statistical indicator systems in the past. However, it has also revealed shortcomings and limitations compared to the requirements of national construction and development and should be renewed and improved as follows:

a/ Identifying and adding new statistical indicators which reflect the quality and effectiveness of development. the competitiveness of the economy and the process of national industrialization and modernization; and indicators on social security as well as environmental protection.

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c/ The assignment of responsibilities for collecting and synthesizing indicators in the national statistical indicator system must be based on management functions and tasks of ministries and sectors as well as those of the centralized statistical system, avoiding duplication and overlap, aiming to fully reflect the socio­economic situation of the country.

2. To develop and promulgate adequate statistical indicator systems of the ministries and branches

Based on the national statistical indicator system, ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies and government-attached agencies, the Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court and the Director of the Supreme People's Procuracy shall expeditiously promulgate statistical indicator systems to meet their respective sectors' management and use requirements. The statistical indicator system of each ministry or branch must be consistent with the national statistical indicator system and other statistical indicator systems; and concurrently serve as an important input information source for the national statistical indicator system, meeting information needs of other organizations and individuals.

3. To develop and promulgate statistical indicator systems at provincial, district and commune levels

The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall assume the prime responsibility for. and coordinate with ministries, branches and localities in. promptly developing and promulgating statistical indicator systems at provincial, district and commune levels which are consistent with the national statistical indicator system as well as statistical indicator systems of ministries and branches. Provincial, district and commune statistical indicator systems must serve as an important input information source for the national statistical indicator system and statistical indicator systems of ministries and branches; meet the needs for statistical information for the leadership, direction and administration by Party agencies and government authorities at the local level; and at the same time, serve other organizations and individuals' needs for statistical information.

4. To develop a system of concepts and methods of calculating statistical indicators

Based on the statistical indicator systems promulgated by competent authorities, the Ministry of Planning and Investment (the General Statistics Office) and other ministries and branches shall standardize concepts and methods of calculating statistical indicators in strict compliance with statistical standards as well as international standards and practices for uniform application, ensuring comparability of statistical data over time and space.

5. To improve forms of gathering input information for statistical indicator systems

To improve forms of gathering information, combining harmoniously and effectively statistical reports and surveys with exploiting diverse and abundant information sources of administrative registration records. Accordingly, to review and formulate complete grassroots statistical reporting regulations: general statistical reporting regulations applicable to ministries and branches; and general statistical reporting regulations applicable to provincial-level Departments of Statistics; statistical reporting regulations of ministries and branches; and organize a system of statistical databases extracted from administrative registration records.

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To focus on renewing and improving other statistical operations which are closely related to new statistical indicator systems, including developing and applying statistical classification tables; enhancing analysis and forecast; intensifying the application and development of information and communications technology; organizing databases of general statistics, initial statistics, meta databases and data stores; developing statistical information products and mechanisms to coordinate, exchange and share information, and a policy to publicize statistical information.

7. To enhance cooperation and international integration in the field of statistics

To enhance cooperation and international integration in the field of statistics. To acquire, apply advanced statistical operations and successful experiences of other countries so as to improve statistical operational methods, renew and complete statistical indicator systems to meet the country's development requirements, in line with international standards and practices. To fully realize commitments on statistics with other countries and international organizations.

IV. SOLUTIONS

1. Assessing the current state of statistical indicator systems

To review and assess the current state of the existing statistical indicator systems, namely the national statistical indicator system promulgated together with the Prime Minister's Decision No. 305/2005/QD-TTg of November 24, 2005; statistical indicator systems of ministries, branches; and statistical indicator systems of provinces, districts and communes. To clarify the comprehensiveness, relevance, consistency and degree of implementation of each indicator in each system, determine specific strengths and weaknesses so as to have a basis for renewing and building complete and synchronous systems of statistical indicators to meet the country's development requirements, in accordance with international standards and practices.

2. Consolidating and improving the system of statistical organizations

a/ The centralized system of statistical organizations which is organized vertically from the central statistics office (General Statistics Office) to local statistical agencies (Departments of Statistics of provinces and centrally run cities and Statistics Divisions of districts, towns and provincial cities) under the Law on Statistics, must be strengthened and promoted;

b/ Statistical organizations of ministries and branches being components of the system of state statistical organizations and part of the organizational structure of ministries and branches have the function to advise ministers and heads of agencies and organizations on the management of statistical work in the relevant sectors; conduct statistical activities to meet the management and administration needs of ministers, heads of agencies as well as general requirements of the Ministry of Planning and Investment (General Statistics Office) and the need for statistical information from organizations and individuals as prescribed by law. Each ministry and branch shall build a statistical organization commensurate with its own statistical requirements and volume of statistical work. The Ministry of Planning and Investment (General Statistics Office) shall take initiative in closely coordinating with functional units of the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuracy in organizing statistical work of the court and procuracy sectors in accordance with the Statistics Law;

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d/ At present, all communes, wards and townships have part-time employees in charge of statistics. Immediately after the provincial, district and commune statistical indicator systems are promulgated and implemented, commune, ward and township authorities shall arrange full-time qualified employees to take charge of statistical work, ensuring the improved quality of grassroots statistics;

e/ Along with the improvement, statistical organizations shall develop a contingent of statistical collaborators who are capable of serving the statistics sector in implementing activities promptly and effectively.

3. Training, scientific research and human resource development

a/ To ensure adequate and stable staffs and improve the quality of human resources of the entire statistics sector, enhancing training, retraining and updating of professional knowledge for those working in statistics of ministries and branches; provinces and centrally run cities; districts, provincial towns and cities, as well as communes, wards and townships, and statistical collaborators;

b/ To step by step apply a model whereby officers from the centralized statistical system are seconded to conduct statistics in ministries and branches. In the immediate future, to apply this model to those ministries and branches which have a big load of statistical work while their officers still fail to meet statistical requirements and should be supported by statistics officers from the centralized statistical system;

c/ To enhance statistical scientific research and promote the application of research results in practice. To train and develop officials, officers and employees with professional qualifications and expertise to effectively implement research activities and statistical operations;

d/ To improve the quality of specialized training in statistics in universities, colleges and vocational secondary schools managed by the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Planning and Investment and other ministries and branches. To pay attention to and enhance certificate-based training and retraining courses in order to improve and update professional knowledge, information technology and foreign language skills in service of statistical work.

4. Improving the legal environment for statistical work

a/ To review the situation and results of implementation of the Law on Statistics, decrees and other regulations related to statistical activities, and make suggestions and recommendations to competent agencies for necessary modifications to meet the requirements of statistical work in the course of national construction and socio-economic development;

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c/ To develop Vietnam's Statistics Development Strategy for the 2011 - 2020 period with a vision to 2025. to be submitted to the Prime Minister for approval.

5. Stepping up the application and development of information and communication technology

a/ Information and communication technology is an important tool for statistical work, helping to gather flows of statistical information and creating a national system of consistent and effective statistical information. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to developing information and communication technology synchronously in terms of technical infrastructure, human resource training, application software, databases, connection, sharing and dissemination of statistical information;

b/ To research and modernize information and communication technology for application in all stages of the statistical process; computerize the collection, synthesis, analysis, dissemination and storage of the centralized statistical information system; statistics of ministries, branches and localities. In particular, to focus on the research and application of electronic statistical surveys; extensive use of advanced technology in processing survey data and statistical census; establishment of macro, micro and meta databases as well as data stores; development of tools for statistical data exploitation, analysis and forecast; increased use of electronic information and publication of electronic statistical products for publishing, sharing statistical information, disseminating statistical knowledge and training in statistical professional operations;

c/ The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall coordinate with other ministries, branches and localities in developing and promulgating a scheme on "the program on application and development of information and communication technology of the state statistical system to 2015 and orientations to 2020."

6. Strengthening international cooperation and effective use of external resources

As strengthening international cooperation is one of the requirements and content of renewal of statistical work, it is necessary to clearly identify the contents of professional cooperation, exchange and disseminate statistical information on the socio- economic situation; work out specific plans to take advantage of and effectively use technical and financial assistance from the statistical sector of other countries and international organizations for strengthening statistical operations; implement synchronous activities for renewal of statistical indicator systems; pay attention to cooperation on the provision of experts, training of human resources, development of information and communication technology for the entire statistical sector. To work out an appropriate roadmap toward full implementation of commitments on statistics with other countries and international organizations.

7. Funds for building and implementing the Scheme

Funding sources for construction and implementation of the Scheme come from the state budget and shall be allocated according to the current decentralization of state budget management.

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The Ministry of Finance is assigned to, on the basis of the approved Scheme, evaluate and submit to the Prime Minister for approval cost estimates for the Scheme implementation at the central level (centralized statistical system and statistics of ministries and branches); and guide localities in arranging local budgets for the jobs falling within the Scheme and ambit of local management.

Ministries, branches and localities shall, based on the assigned jobs and workload as well as provisions of the State Budget Law, make cost estimates and arrange funds according to current regulations, focusing on and giving priority to the two following groups of important tasks:

- Funding for the Scheme formulation and dissemination, training, guiding the implementation of the Scheme in two years (2009-2010);

- Funding for the Scheme implementation in five years (2011-2015) for major activities such as statistical surveys and census; application and development of information and communication technology; training and development of human resources; building of offices; procurement of means of transport and working facilities of the centralized statistical system.

V. ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION

1. Implementation roadmap

a/ In 2010: To finalize and promulgate a uniform system of major statistical indicators, including: the national statistical indicator system; statistical indicator system of each ministry, branch, and provincial, district and commune statistical indicator systems;

b/ To implement statistical indicators in the systems of statistical indicators in two groups: The first group (group A) consists of indicators to be applied from 2011; the second group (group B) consists of indicators to be applied during 2012-2014. From 2015 all indicators listed in the new statistical indicator systems will be applied.

2. Responsibilities of agencies, ministries, local administrations and implementation plans

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b/ The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries, branches and localities in. performing the following major tasks:

- To review the operations of the centralized statistical system and statistical operations at ministries, branches and localities; to assess the overall situation of statistical performance in general and the status of statistical indicator systems in particular in our country so as to have a basis for building and applying statistical indicator systems of other countries, in line with the requirements of the synchronous renewal of the statistical indicator systems in this Scheme.

- To assume the prime responsibility for. and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance in the first quarter of 2010 in, completing the determination and assignment of tasks to be performed by ministries, branches and localities according to the contents and requirements of the Scheme; guiding, disseminating, training and implementing the Scheme in 2010; determining the needs for funds for the Scheme implementation in five years (2011-2015) in the centralized statistical system.

- To develop the national statistical indicator system to be submitted to the Prime Minister for promulgation in the first quarter of 2010.

- To develop and promulgate in the second quarter of 2010 statistical indicator systems at provincial, district and commune levels for uniform application throughout the country.

- To submit to the Prime Minister for issuance a decision on functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the General Statistics Office and a Regulation on statistical collaborators.

- To strengthen the organization of statistics departments of provinces and centrally run cities; statistics divisions of districts, provincial towns and cities; to coordinate with the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuracy in improving the statistical organization of these two sectors; to coordinate with localities and concerned ministries and branches in strengthening the organization of Statistics Departments of provinces and centrally run cities as well as statistics divisions of communes, wards and townships in 2010.

- In the second quarter of 2010, to publicize the interpretations of concepts, methods of calculation and sources of data of the group-A statistical indicators.

- In the second quarter of 2011, to publicize the interpretations of concepts, methods of calculation and sources of data of the group-B statistical indicators.

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- In 2010. to formulate and promulgate a program on the application and development of information and communication technology within the stale statistical system; to assume the prime responsibility for. and coordinate with other ministries, branches and localities in, mobilizing and arranging official development assistance (ODA) for the application and development of information and communication technology in statistics.

- In 2010, to evaluate the implementation of the Statistics Law and relevant legal documents, so as to have a basis to propose competent authorities the modification and improvement of legal documents on statistics; at the same time, to work out communication and dissemination plans, urge and supervise the strict observance of these documents.

- To formulate Vietnam's Statistics Development Strategy during 2011-2020 with a vision to 2025. to be submitted to the Prime Minister for approval in late 2010.

- To organize communication and dissemina­tion activities as well as training and guidance on the Scheme-related contents and implement the Scheme within the centralized statistical system; to monitor and urge ministries, branches and localities in realizing the Scheme- related contents in 2010.

- From 2010 to 2015. to submit annual reports to the Prime Minister on the situation and results of implementation of the Scheme in the entire statistical sector.

- In 2015, to review the entire process of implementation of the Scheme.

c/ Other ministries and branches

- In the first quarter of 2010 to announce the results of assessment of statistical performance of ministries and branches, and gather experiences of other countries regarding specialized statistics in the fields corresponding to those under their respective management.

- To assume the prime responsibility for. and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance in. completing the formulation, evaluation and approval of cost estimates, arrange and guide in detail funds for the Scheme implementation in the first quarter of 2010.

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- To organize the application and development of information and communication technology, computerize the collection, processing, synthesis, analysis, forecasting, storing, sharing and disclosure of statistical information of ministries and branches. To build micro and macro statistical databases and computer networks; to connect and share statistical information within ministries and branches as well as with departments of provinces and centrally run cities and with the Ministry of Planning and Investment (General Statistics Office) and other ministries and branches in 2010.

- To organize communication, dissemination, training and guiding activities, implement, monitor and urge their attached agencies and units to do jobs falling under the responsibilities of ministries and branches within the Scheme and in line with the roadmap proposed in 2010.

- To complete the consolidation and improvement of statistics organizations of ministries and branches under Decree No. 03/ 2010/ND-CP of May 13, 2010. defining tasks, powers and organizational structure of statistics organizations of ministries, ministerial-level agencies and government attached agencies; to enhance the legal environment, material foundations, funding and other conditions necessary for statistical work of ministries and branches in 2011.

- From 2010 to 2015. to make annual reports evaluating the implementation of the Scheme by ministries and branches, and send them to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (General Statistics Office) for integration in a report to the Prime Minister.

- In addition to the above common tasks of ministries and branches, the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Home Affairs have the following tasks:

+ The Ministry of Finance shall assume the prime responsibility for. and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment (General Statistics Office), other ministries, branches and localities in. evaluating, submitting for approval and allocating funds for the Scheme implementation in 2010 according to the provisions of Clause 7 of Section IV.

+ The Ministry of Home Affairs shall, in 2010: (i) assume the prime responsibility for. and coordinate with other ministries, branches and localities in, implementing contents related to the organization and staffing of the centralized statistical system; statistics of ministries and branches; statistics departments of provinces and centrally run cities and statistics divisions of communes, wards and townships; and (ii) allocate funds for retraining statistical staff and employees to meet the requirements for better statistical performance.

d/ The People's Committee of a province or centrally run city

- In the second quarter of 2010, to publicize the results of assessment of the locality's actual statistical work, which will serve as a basis for renewal in the locality in particular and in the entire statistical sector in general.

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- To join the Ministry of Planning and Investment and relevant ministries and branches in developing statistical indicator systems at provincial, district and commune levels and deploy contents of renewal of statistical operations which are related to the synchronous renovation of statistical indicator systems in the locality in 2010.

- In 2010, to complete the building and consolidation of statistics departments and division of localities, communes, wards and townships; improve the legal environment; formulate a program on the application and development of information and communication technology; implement appropriate measures and strengthen human resources and facilities for grassroots statistical organizations in the locality.

- To direct, train, guide, monitor and urge departments, branches and grassroots units in the locality to perform jobs falling under local responsibilities as defined in the Scheme and in line with the set roadmap. From 2010 to 2015. to make annual reports evaluating the implementation of the Scheme by the locality, which will be sent to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (General Statistics Office) for incorporation into a report to the Prime Minister.

Article 2. This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing.

Article 3. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies and government-attached agencies, chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities and the Director of the Steering Committee for the synchronous renewal of statistical indicator systems shall implement this Decision.-

FOR THE PRIME MINISTER
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER




Nguyen Sinh Hung