HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Construction is moving to reduce administrative procedures for projects with approved 1/500 detailed planning, as part of a push to cut red tape and boost efficiency in the construction sector.

In a directive issued to member units recently, Minister of Construction Trần Hồng Minh called for urgent reforms aimed at simplifying the permit process, especially for investment projects that already meet detailed planning or urban design criteria.

Agencies under the ministry have been instructed to take a hands-on approach to reviewing and cutting administrative procedures within their respective areas. The goal is to reduce processing times, compliance costs, and business conditions by at least 30 per cent within 2025.

Among the proposed reforms is a shift from a licensing model to a self-declaration mechanism for construction firms. Under this approach, businesses would confirm their own compliance with regulatory conditions, with authorities carrying out post-inspections instead of pre-approvals. This move is expected to reduce costs and paperwork for enterprises while maintaining oversight.

The Ministry of Construction is also working to narrow the scope of projects that require appraisals by specialised construction agencies, and to amend regulations governing unit prices and cost norms, especially in transport infrastructure projects, aiming to ease bottlenecks in project execution.

In parallel, a review of construction-related technical standards and regulations is underway. The ministry is seeking to identify additional standards needed to support planning and investment, as well as to scrap outdated rules that may cause inefficiencies or unnecessary expenses.

Digital transformation is also high on the agenda. The ministry’s Information Technology Centre is developing a plan to promote digitalisation and automation in administrative processes, including the creation of a centralised database to speed up application processing and reduce paperwork. This plan is expected to be finalised by the end of July.

In addition, the ministry is preparing a proposal to further simplify procedures related to business and investment activities in the construction sector. Once finalised, the proposal will be submitted to the Prime Minister after consultation with other ministries and localities.

Progress on the reforms will be tracked and reported monthly to the Government and the Prime Minister. — VNS