The Prime Minister has issued a decision on a number of specific mechanisms and policies to develop Phu Quoc Island in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang.

Investors running projects on the island will receive the highest support under Decree No.29/2008/ND-CP of March 14, 2008 , on industrial parks, export processing zones and economic zones.

Foreign passport holders will be exempt from visa if they want to enter and stay on Phu Quoc Island for less than 30 days, according to the decision, which will take effect on March 10, 2014 .

During the 2014-2015 period, investment will be poured into building the transport system on the island, including the major transport axis connecting the island’s northern and southern sections, and roads around the island, as well as an airport, a seaport, and a number of projects on socio-economic development, health care, education and urban environment.

Investors from home and abroad are encouraged to inject money into building sewage treatment systems, high-quality hospitals, and training centres for trade and tourism sectors.

Covering a total area of 574 sq. km, Phu Quoc is Vietnam ’s largest island and dubbed as a “tourism paradise” in the south-western region.

With 109 accommodation facilities, the island offers an array of entertainment activities such as fishing, scuba diving, tours of pearl farms and swimming in the sea.

According to a master plan on Kien Giang’s socio-economic development by 2020, Phu Quoc Island will become a special administrative-economic zone by the end of this decade with its role as a national and international hi-end ecotourism and entertainment centre and a regional financial hub.

It will also act as a forest and marine biodiversity conservation centre that holds a special position in security and national defence.

The island has so far attracted 206 investment projects worth over four trillion VND (190.5 million USD). Of the total, 13 projects have already been put into operation.-VNA