PM approves vast IZ for Tra Vinh

The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Tra Vinh yesterday, Oct 17, received approval from the Prime Minister to develop an economic zone covering 39,000 ha of land with 42 kilometres of coastline.

The Dinh An Economic Zone will contain areas for industry, trade, services, tourism, agriculture, forestry and fishery. Ports, roads and facilities for education, vocational training and research will be built in the zone, which is designed to boost Tra Vinh's economy, one of the poorest provinces in southern Viet Nam.

Speaking at the announcement ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan asked the local authorities to create detailed designs for sub-regions and urban areas in the zone and make them available to investors.

He said that authorities must pay special attention to the human-resource demand of investors.

"There should be a human-resource support centre to receive demand from investors," he said, adding that authorities should work with universities and vocational schools so they can satisfy labour demand. In addition, he told provincial officials that preparation on transport infrastructure, water drainage and electricity were needed to attract investors.

According to the province's chairman, Tran Khieu, the project development will be in two phases, with the first toward 2020 and the second by 2030. There will be 456,000 people living in the zone by 2030.

The first phase covering over 15,000 hectares will include 3,200ha for industrial and storehouse projects; 2,000ha for tourism, recreation and service facilities; 2,700ha for Duyen Hai Township; 2,600 ha for the Dinh An Urban area and Tra Cu Port; and over 1,000ha for agriculture, forestry and fishery, among others.

On this occasion, the province handed over investment certificates to 11 projects worth VND211 trillion (US$10 billion).

The Ha Long Investment – Development and Commercial Joint-Stock Company has three projects with a combined acreage of 3,000 ha and a total investment of $5 billion. The projects include development of infrastructure for Ngu Lac Industrial Park, Petrochemical Industrial Park and Duyen Hai Urban Area.

According to Pham Tiet Khoa, deputy head of the Tra Vinh Economic Zone Authority, several preferential policies will be offered to investors.

Investors will not be required to pay a land lease fee if their projects are in areas of special encouragement by the province, such as infrastructure, education and apartments for industrial park workers.

In addition, they will have a tax holiday over four years beginning from the year they make profits.

Preferences will also be given in import and export taxation and income tax for individuals working in the economic zone.

Former Japanese PM welcomed in Hanoi

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama in Hanoi on October 17.

At the reception, PM Dung expressed joy at fine development in the strategic cooperation and partnership of Vietnam and Japan in all fields despite the global economic crisis.

He thanked Japan for its ODA provision for Vietnam’s development programmes and affirmed that Vietnam will make every effort, together with the Japanese side, to make the multifaceted cooperation more effective, for the interests and development of the two nations as well as for peace, stability and development in the region and the world at large.

The Vietnamese Government leader suggested the two sides focus on boosting cooperation in economic activity, trade, investment, infrastructure, energy, environment and culture.

He expressed his wish that the former Japanese PM, with his prestige, will continue making active contributions to fostering the Vietnam-Japan comprehensive cooperation.

Expressing his impression of Vietnam ’s achievements, Yukio Hatoyama spoke highly of Vietnam ’s valuable and effective assistance for Japan in overcoming the consequences of the March earthquake and tsunami.

He expressed his belief that PM Dung’s upcoming official visit to Japan will deepen the multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Japan , especially in speeding up the implementation of joint projects on nuclear power, transport infrastructure, hi-tech, education and training, culture and health.

On the same day, the former Japanese PM was received by To Huy Rua, Head of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Commission for Organisation.

Australia, Vietnam strengthen judicial cooperation

A delegation from the Vietnam Supreme People’s Court (VSPC) led by Chief Judge Truong Hoa Binh was on a working visit to Australia from October 11-18, to boost ties with the Federal Court of Australia (FCA). 

During the visit, the Vietnamese delegation worked with FCA Chief Judge Patrick Anthony Keane, during which the two sides exchanged experience in the organisation and operation of each country’s court sector and agreed on orientations for future bilateral cooperation. 

The delegation visited the Supreme Court of New South Wales and other relevant agencies to study the Australian court sector’s judiciary experience. 

On this occasion, Chief Judge Binh presented the “For the cause of the court” insignia to Michael Moore, former judge of the FCA, for his contributions to expanding and developing cooperation between the two courts. 

Vietnam and Australia signed a memorandum of understanding on judiciary cooperation in September, 2009.

Vietnam attends 125th Inter-Parliamentary Union

A delegation from the Vietnam National Assembly led by its Head of Committee on Foreign Affairs Tran Van Hang is taking part in the 125th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Bern, Switzerland from October 16-19.  

Attending the opening ceremony were UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, IPU President Theo-Ben Gurirab, Swiss President Micheline Anne-Marie Calmy-Rey and parliamentary leaders from 130 countries around the world.

Under discussion are disarmament, situations in the Middle East and North Africa, financial market regulations, global management, health care for women and children and green economy.

Bilateral dialogues have been held by participants coming from different parts of the world with a view to ending the on-going conflicts.

Established in 1889, the Geneva-based union is the first permanent forum for political multilateral negotiations. Current it has 157 members.

Hanoi boosts ties with Finnish localities

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen The Thao received a delegation of mayors of Finnish cities and provinces, who are on a visit to Vietnam from October 16-21. 

At the reception, Thao highly valued the time-honoured traditional relationship between the Finnish and Vietnamese people, saying that in the current national development process, Vietnam continues to receive valuable support from Finland, especially in economics, culture and poverty reduction. 

Finland’s assistance for Hanoi in building a standard clean water plant and many other projects has helped improve the living standards of city dwellers, he said. 

On behalf of the Finish delegation, Asko Peltola, Mayor of South Ostrobothnia, President of the Council of Mayors of Finland, spoke highly of Hanoi’s development and Vietnam’s role in the world community. 

Vietnam is a market of full potential, he said, adding that the visit will open up cooperative development opportunities between Vietnamese localities and Finland. 

On the same day, the Hanoi mayor received Turkish Ambassador Ahmet Akif Oktay and Pakistani Ambassador Shahid M.G. Kiani.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA