Making Border-gate Industrial and Economic Zones Greener

3:54:48 PM | 4/1/2019

Guided by the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People’s Committee and closely supported and coordinated by provincial departments and local authorities, the Kien Giang Economic Zones Authority has focused on attracting investors to study investment opportunities in Ha Tien industrial zones and border gate economic zones and initially achieve some positive results. The following interview with Mr. Le Minh Trung, Deputy Director of Kien Giang Economic Zones Authority, will partly show these positive signals. Cong Luan reports.

Could you please tell us about outstanding investment attraction results in industrial and economic zones in the province?

With the close guidance of the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial People’s Committee, the strong coordination and support of provincial and local authorities and relevant agencies, and its effective investment promotion efforts, the Kien Giang Economic Zones Authority successfully attracted relatively large investment projects which pay big tax to local coffers, effectively tap local strengths and hire a lot of local workers.

By the end of 2018, 27 projects were registered to invest in Thanh Loc and Thuan Yen industrial parks, hiring 153.25 ha, including 20 licensed projects with VND5,460 billion of registered investment capital and seven agreed projects. To date, nine projects are operational. Revenue of tenants in Thanh Loc and Thuan Yen industrial parks were estimated at VND6,345 billion in 2018, paid VND888.6 billion to the State Budget and employed 5,761 workers.

Typical tenants included VND1,400-billion VRG Kien Giang MDF Manufacturing Factory, VND1,000-billion Sai Gon - Kien Giang Brewery, VND760-billion Kien Giang TBS Export Footwear Factory, and VND749-billion Hwaseung Rach Gia Sports Shoe Manufacturing and Processing Factory.

To attract more investment capital, especially large-scale projects, each locality must have a plan for strategic, sustainable industrial and economic zone development. So, how did Kien Giang province pay attention to industrial zone and economic zone development planning?

Since its establishment, the Kien Giang Economic Zones Authority worked out the development plan for Kien Giang province-based economic zones and industrial zones to 2015, an eye to 2020. Accordingly, the Prime Minister approved a total land area of 763 hectares for industrial park development in Kien Giang province, including 250-ha Thanh Loc Industrial Park, 133.95-ha Thuan Yen Industrial Park, 210.54-ha Xeo Ro Industrial Park, 68-ha Tac Cau Industrial Park and 100-ha Kien Luong II Industrial Park. Currently, the authority prepared detailed plans for three industrial parks (Thanh Loc, Thuan Yen and Xeo Ro). It regularly reviewed the implementation progress to make necessary changes to match actual situations.

Besides, Kien Giang was approved by the Prime Minister to carry out Ha Tien City Master Plan and build 1,200-ha Ha Tien Border Gate Economic Zone. The Provincial People’s Committee approved functional areas in Ha Tien Border Gate Economic Zone, including 3.11-ha free-duty zone, 1.8-ha market, 4.09-ha bonded warehouse, and 50.81-ha nontariff area. To date, the Provincial People's Committee approved in principle to allow two investors to conduct researches and surveys to make necessary adjustments to investment project plans for building markets and duty-free shops in the economic zone and projects in the nontariff zone.

On May 22, 2018, the Government issued Decree 82/2018/ND-CP with regulations on development objectives and incentive policies for environment-friendly projects in industrial parks. In the spirit of the decree, how did the Kien Giang Economic Zones Authority realize the “greening” objective in local economic and industrial zones?

Knowing that industrial production has exerted certain impacts on the environment, right after investors register to bring their projects to industrial parks, the Kien Giang Economic Zones Authority instructed investors to carry out the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report or environmental protection plan as provided by the law. When investors carry out their projects, the authority appoints staffs to monitor and supervise environmental protection. After their projects are put into operation, the authority coordinates with relevant departments and agencies to instruct and inspect the observance of environmental protection laws in tenants. The agency also guides businesses to apply environmental protection procedures, deploys and operates waste treatment and environmental quality monitoring projects. Inspections and timely revelations of shortcomings for settlement, no adverse environmental incidents have occurred. Therefore, environmental protection there is always ensured.

In 2018, the Government issued Decree 82/2018/ND-CP dated May 22, 2018 on management of economic and industrial zones, including regulations on development objectives and incentive policies on environment-friendly, ecological industrial zone development. In the spirit of the decree, the Kien Giang Economic Zones Authority planned to coordinate with relevant bodies to encourage enterprises in industrial parks to improve management, operation, innovation and technology application for cleaner, environment-friendlier production, reduce sources of environmental pollution, reuse waste and scrap, and efficiently use resources. Since then, environmental protection inside and outside industrial parks has been improved towards sustainability. In the coming time, the authority will also conduct researches and advise the Provincial People’s Committee to adjust the system planning towards green industrial zones in the province.

What is the province’s plan to develop and attract investment capital into local industrial and economic zones in the future?

Carrying out the Resolution of the 10th Kien Giang Provincial Party Congress (2015-2020 tenure), the Kien Giang Economic Zones Authority continues to compensate land, clear the ground and complete infrastructure construction in Thanh Loc and Thuan Yen industrial parks (roads, power grid, water supply and drainage systems, post and telecommunications, wastewater treatment plants among other facilities) for tenants. The authority will speed up communication, contact and woo investors to explore and invest in infrastructure construction and operation in industrial zones (Xeo Ro, Tac Cau and Thuan Yen II), locate in production projects in Thanh Loc and Thuan Yen industrial parks to increase the occupancy rate.

Industrial production sectors prioritized by industrial parks include projects that tap local production resources (agricultural, forest and aquatic products, foods, drinks and construction materials), projects that employ many local laborers (footwear and apparel, electronics, consumer goods, plastic, glass, paper and packaging); and environment-friendly high-tech projects. In addition, the authority will guide project investment, support administrative procedures, and provide an open investment environment for businesses and investors, increase direct meetings and exchanges with tenants in industrial zones to capture information about their operations to promptly support them to deal with emerging difficulties and obstacles.

Thank you very much!