The present Development Strategy Institute (DSI) was established on the foundation of the two departments of the former State Planning Committee (now the Ministry of Planning and Investment or MPI in short), namely the Department for Long-term National Overall Economic Planning (a), and the Department for Economic Zoning and Planning (b). 

The Institute is responsible for:

• Executing its functions of conducting research in and making recommendations regarding national socio-economic development strategies, and socio-economic development master plans for regions and territorial areas; organising public service delivery in the areas of scientific research/studies, training and capacity upgrading of professionals; and providing consultancy services in the field of development strategies and master plans in accordance with relevant regulations provided by law;
• Drafting projects on national socio-economic development strategies, and socio-economic development master plans for regions and territorial areas in specific periods for submission to the competent State bodies for consideration and approval.
• Conducting research in the theories and methodologies of socio-economic development strategy and master plan formulation;
• Conducting analysis, synthesis of and forecasts for socio-economic, scientific- technological, and environmental changes and international factors affecting socio-economic development strategies and master plans;
• Reviewing projects on socio-economic development strategy and master plan for centrally-managed provinces and cities, and sectors/industries as assigned by competent bodies;

Organising public service delivery:

• Implementing scientific research programmes on socio-economic development strategies and master plans. and other scientific studies in accordance with relevant regulations provided by law;
• Establishing the information system in service of research in socio-economic development strategies and master plans;
• Providing consultancy services in the area of socio-economic development strategising and master planning;
• Providing training and capacity upgrading for professionals in development strategising and master planning; and PhD training in accordance with relevant regulations provided by law;
• Providing training and capacity upgrading for professionals in development strategising and master planning; and PhD training in accordance with relevant regulations provided by law;
• Compiling and producing publications, scientific research works, research documents on strategies and master plans in accordance with relevant regulations provided by law;
• Executing international cooperation in the area of development strategising and master planning as assigned by the Minister of Planning and Investment
• Managing the Institute’s organisational apparatus, staff, public officials, civil servants, employees and its finance and assets in accordance with relevant regulations provided by law and those on decentralisation from the Minister of Planning and Investment
• Implementing other tasks and powers assigned by the Minister of Planning and Investment in accordance with relevant regulations provided by law.