VietNamNet Bridge – The authorities of Dong Nai Province have decided to suspend new investments into five industries, effective from this month, to cope with rising pollution, said the province’s Department of Planning and Investment.

Investors cannot get approval for projects in pulp and paper production, tapioca processing, rubber processing, production of basic chemicals, and leather tanning, said Bo Ngoc Thu, director of the department.

These sectors have left an adverse impact on the environment, she told a meeting held last week to review the province’s socio-economic performance in the first half of this year. She noted that a number of paper and pulp manufacturing facilities in the locality discharged toxic and stinking wastewater, frustrating local people.

“The provincial authorities have temporarily halted investments (in these industries) because it will be very difficult to handle the problem if more investors keep pouring money into these industrial operations,” Thu said.

In addition to the ban, the provincial government announced a list of conditional business fields for investment in industrial zones such as plating, spraying, metal polishing, dyeing, fertilizer production, aquatic possessing, and paint production.

The province is now prioritizing projects in high-tech and supporting industries, production of new materials, environmentally-friendly and energy-saving projects, information technology, agriculture, processing industries and infrastructure.

The provincial government has also tightened regulations on environmental protection this year, and thus has rejected many investment projects, Thu said.

The amount of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Dong Nai is estimated to reach only US$1 billion this year, much lower than the US$1.64 billion last year while that of domestic investment is projected at nearly VND7 trillion, down from the VND8 trillion last year.

Dong Nai spends big to ease damage caused by worker protests

Financial support for the firms suffering from the damage caused by worker protests that broke out in Dong Nai Province in mid-May following China’s illegal oil rig placement in Vietnam’s waters totals VND373 billion. The province is expected to make all payments for such enterprises by July 30.

According to the provincial government, goods damaged in the protests was valued at VND173 billion, followed by materials with VND92 billion, equipment with VND47 billion and manufacturing facilities with VND25 billion.

The provincial taxman has decided to refund a total of VND216 billion to 44 companies, reschedule documents of tax declaration for nine firms, and offer tax exemptions for five enterprises. Meanwhile, the local customs sector also pledged to support as many as 32 companies in customs clearance.

In addition, the central Government permitted the affected enterprises to take out loans in foreign currency to facilitate their operations.

Vice chairwoman Phan Thi My Thanh of Dong Nai Province urged insurance companies to make compensation for the affected firms.

Earlier, as many as 35 businesses had received compensation advances of over VND46 billion from a supportive program co-organized by the Ministry of Finance and the provincial government.

SGT/VNN