LookAtVietnam – Over one year after the capital city expanded, beginning in August 2008, Hanoi has an additional 700 government employees, very far from its permitted level.

The new border lines of Hanoi marked a milestone in the historic expansion of Vietnam’s capital. Approved by the National Assembly in late May 2008, the new boundaries make Hanoi the 17th largest capital in the world, with a total area of more than 3,300 square kilometers.

After its expansion, the number of vice-party secretaries, members of the People’s Council and People’s Committee and deputy directors of departments also increased. Hanoi currently has approximately 20 directors and 160 deputy directors of specialized departments

In August 2008, the city had 8133 government employees. The figure rose to 8839 by September 31, 2009, an increase of 706 people.

The Hanoi People’s Committee said that the growth of personnel is to meet the requirement of district agencies in the former Ha Tay province.

According to Hanoi’s report, the city spent 50 billion dong ($2.94 million) for moving assets of government agencies when they were merged and 3 trillion dong ($176.4 million) for new areas.

After the expansion, Hanoi’s GDP increased around 5.7 percent in the first nine months of 2009. The government commented that the capital city’s economy is still unstable and attracts less foreign investment than its potential.

Hanoi’s Chairman Le The Thao, remarked that the global economic recession has partly affected the city, but other problems have existed for many years before the expansion.

Today’s Hanoi consists of 6.2 million people, double the previous population. Ha Tay, with 2.5 million people, no longer exists as a separate province.

The new capital also absorbed Vinh Phuc Province’s Me Linh District and four communes of Hoa Binh Province’s Luong Son District.

VietNamNet/VNE