VietNamNet Bridge – Following a decision by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, a larger border gate economic zone will be set up in the northern province of Cao Bang.

Lorries transport goods in an out the Ta Lung Border Gate which is one of the three border gates being merged into the new economic zones in Cao Bang Province.

The zone, which borders China, will cover 30,000 hectares, 37 communes and three towns, according to the information released at a ceremony in Cao Bang this week.

Running along the 265-kilometre shared borderline with China's southwestern province of Guangxi, the zone will be formed by merging three existing border gate economic zones, namely Ta Lung, Tra Linh and Soc Giang.

A non-tariff area will be set up and international border gates, industrial parks, financial and administrative centers and urban and residential areas will be developed.

The zone is expected to help turn the province into a commercial and tourism hub and serve as an important gateway, linking the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with China.

It also hopes to encourage competitiveness with Chinese economic zones, generate jobs for 1,000 local people and see an annual import-export surge of 17 to 20 per cent in the 2016-20 period.

Source: VNS