The Prime Minister has approved a proposal to prioritise five groups of coastal economic zones (EZs) to receive support from the State budget during 2013-15.
The target groups are the Chu Lai EZ (Quang Nam central province) - Dung Quat EZ (Quang Ngai central province); Dinh Vu and Cat Hai EZs in the northern port city of Hai Phong; Nghi Son EZ (Thanh Hoa central province); Vung Ang EZ (Ha Tinh central province); and Phu Quoc EZ –Nam An Thoi Islands in Kien Giang southern province.
The five groups will receive at least 65 percent of the total budget funding for each year and for the three-year period of 2013-2015.
The State funding aims to bring into full play the potential of these selected economic zones to contribute to national economic growth as well as drive the development of other economic zones, according to the ministry.
A total of 15 coastal economic zones have been established nationwide, which cover a total area of over 662,000ha. However, poor-quality planning, over-rapid development and dispersed investment have been blamed for hindering their growth.
The nation has invested about 11 trillion VND (524 million USD) in developing the infrastructure of these zones over the past decade.-VNA