 The NES aimed at creating an efficient economic system and transforming East Germany into a leading industrial nation.Under the NES, the task of establishing future economic development was assigned to central planning.Decentralization involved the partial transfer of decision-making authority from the central State Planning Commission and National Economic Council to the Associations of People's Enterprises ("Vereinigungen Volkseigener Betriebe"—VVBs), parent organizations intended to promote specialization within the same areas of production.