Ho Chi Minh City is embarking on significant government restructuring aimed at streamlining administration and enhancing effectiveness, encapsulated by the recent announcement of key leadership changes. This initiative reflects not only the city's ambition to improve governance but also responds to pressing demands for efficiency and improved public service delivery.
On February 22, 2023, the city revealed plans for restructuring, effective from March 1, 2023. Among the notable decisions was the appointment of Nguyen Van Phuc as Chairman of the People's Committee. At the same time, Tran Huu Thuy Giang was introduced as part of the new leadership team. The primary goal of this restructuring process is to create a more agile and responsive government body capable of addressing the needs of its citizens effectively.
Officials emphasized the importance of increasing the sense of responsibility among committee members and department heads, urging them to contribute positively to the development initiatives of the city. "Each committee member, secretary, and head of agencies needs to raise their sense of responsibility, actively contributing positively to the breakthrough development of Hue," stated Le Truong Luu, the Secretary of the Hue City Committee, emphasizing the urgency of the task at hand for public officials.
This restructuring is not happening in isolation. Ho Chi Minh City is observing successful government models from countries such as Japan, Singapore, and Germany, which have successfully streamlined their administrative processes. For example, Japan's administrative reforms rely on systematic recruitment processes to recruit competent public servants who can adapt to modern governance demands. Similarly, Singapore insists on integrity and transparency within its public service, demonstrating the effectiveness of high standards during recruitment.
These international examples highlight the necessity of having competent, agile, and innovative administrative personnel, which has become increasingly important amid the current fast-paced global environment. Ho Chi Minh City's leaders aim to mirror these successful strategies to nurture local talent and revamp the existing governance framework.
The steps being taken include the establishment of new administrative departments, alongside the consolidation of existing ones, as part of the streamlining efforts. By merging functions and simplifying processes, the city's government aims to reduce bureaucracy and focus its efforts on improving service delivery during times of rapid urban growth.
Ho Chi Minh City's approach to administrative reform is multi-faceted, consisting of not only the appointments of new leaders but also the implementation of systems to assess and evaluate the effectiveness of public officials. According to city officials, this includes establishing clear performance indicators as part of their operational framework.
With these changes, Ho Chi Minh City is positioning itself as not just another administrative body, but as a model of governance excellence and efficiency—a city where public servants are truly accountable to the citizens they serve. This reflects the broader aspirations of Vietnam to modernize governance structures and streamline public administration to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
These measures aim to bring significant advancements to Ho Chi Minh City as it embraces the challenges and opportunities of modern urban governance. An efficient government structure is expected to lead to improved public services, heightened satisfaction among citizens, and, eventually, more significant economic growth.
Ho Chi Minh City’s leaders are optimistic, believing they can achieve their goals and significantly boost economic growth, targeting increases over ten percent by the year 2025. The commitment to innovation, cooperation, and accountability is seen as the cornerstone for future success.