Special policies needed for Van Phong Economic Zone

Hanoi (VNA) – Lawmakers have agreed on the need to have special mechanisms and outstanding policies for the central province of Khanh Hoa and the Van Phong Economic Zone in particular to attract resources, promote potential and strengths for rapid and sustainable development. 

NA deputy To Van Tam from Kon Tum province speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)

As part of the third session of the 15th National Assembly on June 10, the legislators discussed a draft resolution on piloting several special mechanisms and policies for the development of KhanhHoa province and the Van Phong Economic Zone in particular.

Creating breakthrough mechanisms

Deputy To Van Tam from the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum stated that it is right and necessary for the National Assembly to consider issuing a resolution allowing KhanhHoa to implement several specific mechanisms.

He said the Politburo, in its Resolution 09, identified developing the Van Phong Economic Zone as a driving force for the development of the province and the south-central region.

However, there are not any special mechanisms and policies issued for the development of the Van Phong Economic Zone since its establishment under the Prime Minister’s Decision 92 in 2006, while the Phu Quoc and Van Don economic zones already have. Therefore, it is necessary to have specific policies for the development of this zone, he stressed.

Sharing the view, deputy Nguyen Thi Tuyet Nga from the central province of Quang Binh stated that special mechanisms and outstanding policies are needed for Khanh Hoa to attract resources and promote potential and strengths for rapid and sustainable development.

It is necessary to have more attractive and feasible policies for the development of the Van Phong Economic Zone, such as expanding conditions for strategic investors, improving the feasibility of attracting resources, and having regulations on the responsibilities of strategic investors when they fail to fulfil their commitments as well as distinctive preferential policies suitable for each investment field to create breakthroughs for the development of the Van Phong Economic Zone.

Environmental impacts not allowed

Deputy Nguyen Hai Anh from the southern province of Dong Thap proposed reviewing more carefully the list of priority industries for investment attraction in the direction of avoiding those posing high risks to the environment, especially the sea and ocean environment, or industries with high carbon emissions.

Deputy Nguyen Hai Anh from the southern province of Dong Thap (Photo: VNA)

Special attention should be paid to lessons learned from marine environmental incidents and disasters that have occurred in some other localities to take management, inspection and supervision measures, he said.

In that spirit, Anh suggested that the National Assembly consider authorising the Management Board of the Van Phong Economic Zone to appraise and approve the environmental impact assessment reports and issue environmental permits for investment projects under the authority of the provincial People's Committee.

Priority needs to be given to attracting projects to build high-tech parks, centres for research and application of science and technology on the seas and oceans, as well as those on modern health care.

It is necessary to add binding responsibilities for strategic investors, especially that for protecting the environment, sea and ocean ecosystems and local socio-cultural values and landscapes, as well as sanctions in case investors fail to fulfil their commitments, he added.

Deputy Le Van Thin from the central province of Phu Yen also emphasised the need to introduce criteria to attract investors with real potential, minimising incidents caused by investors that affect politics, security and national defence. He also suggested reviewing the conditions and regulations on investor experience.

He highly agreed with a provision regarding corporate income tax deduction for research and development expenditures. According to him, this is a new criterion to promote enterprises with scientific potential and autonomy, creating motivation for economic activities.

Located in the districts of Van Ninh and Ninh Hoa, the Van Phong Economic Zone covers 1,500sq.km, some 800sq.km of which are at sea.

The zone includes an international container port, an oil refinery and a point of transit for petroleum and petroleum products. It also caters for tourism, services, industry, aquaculture and other economic sectors.

Van Phong serves as an economic centre of Khanh Hoa, an investment magnet and a driving force for economic development in neighbouring areas./.