HCM City’s Department of Industry and Trade has submitted a proposal to the city’s People’s Committee on opening a chemical trade centre.

Kim Biên market in HCM City. HCM City’s Department of Industry and Trade has submitted a proposal to the city’s People’s Committee on opening a chemical trade centre.

Under the project, the city is considering five areas of land located in Bình Chánh District and one in District 9 to build the 10-hectare centre.

The construction will include four periods between June 2016 to September 2017.

The department is seeking an investor for the project.

A report by the department shows that the city has 638 chemical trading facilities.

Industrial chemical trading facilities mainly operate in Districts 5, 10, 11, Tân Bình, Tân Phú, Gò Vấp and Bình Tân.

Around 8,000 kinds of chemicals are available on the market. Of that number, more than 1,000 chemicals are classified as conditional business and must be approved by local authorities. At least 212 are restricted chemicals licensed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and seven are explosive precursors.

According to the department, chemical trading management has not produced effective results because there are overlapping regulations about the storage and use of hazardous chemicals.

The chemical trade centre could help alleviate this situation.

The city plans to strengthen co-ordination with local districts to move hazardous chemical facilities out of residential areas to prevent the risk of fires and explosions.

The management of import, distribution and using of chemical will also be improved.  

VNS