A State-owned bank will provide loans for the construction of the first two ships to be built in central Thanh Hoa province under a Government decree supporting fisheries development, as formulated in credit contracts inked on June 10.

The Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank) will loan 12.1 billion VND (556,600 USD) over 15 years to a local resident of Nghi Son commune to build a steel fishing vessel with 811CV engines. The total construction cost is 15.9 billion VND (731,400 USD).

The Long Hai Trading, Transportation, Sea Product and Processing Joint Stock Company based in Hai Binh commune will get a 15-year loan of 6.2 billion VND (285,200 USD) from Agribank to build a wooden logistics ship. It will take 8.8 billion VND (404,800 USD) in total to build the 829 CV vessel.

The two debtors have had efficient fishing and logistics activities and good financial strength, as confirmed by the Thanh Hoa People’s Committee.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)’s decision, Thanh Hoa will build 90 fishing vessels with engines of at least 400 CV and four logistics ships under the Government decree.

Decree 67/2014/ND-CP, taking effect from August 25 last year, provides basic policies to encourage fishermen to build high-capacity and steel ships capable of fishing offshore, a practice that could earn fishermen higher incomes and contribute to protecting the country’s territorial waters.

As many as 2,079 new off-shore fishing ships and 205 logistics ships will be built under the Decree, according to the MARD.-VNA