Hanoi, June 4 -- Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Chi has called for faster disbursement for national target programmes and public investment plans, stressing that officials and agencies responsible for delays, especially those showing signs of responsibility avoidance or buck-passing, must be held accountable.

Speaking at the Government's regular press conference for May on June 3, the Deputy Minister acknowledged that implementation and disbursement of national target programmes, as well as public investment projects in general, remain slower than expected despite repeated reviews by the Ministry of Finance, relevant ministries and localities.

While both objective and subjective factors are behind the delays, shortcomings in lead...