Average salaries at Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone would be USD13,500 to USD28,600 by 2030 compared to the current USD2,200 in Vietnam according to Secretary of the Party Committee of Kien Giang Province, Nguyen Thanh Nghi.

Secretary of the Party Committee of Kien Giang Province, Nguyen Thanh Nghi

Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone will focus on high-class resorts, financial services and biotechnology. Nghi said with advantages of its beaches and rich biodiversity, Phu Quoc is ideal for eco-tourism and resort projects.

"Phu Quoc connects by the sea with many ASEAN countries and is only 2 hours flight from neighbouring capitals. It has the favourable conditions for trading with the world. Moreover, the airport and port have been built or upgraded with improved infrastructure. With preferential policies and determination by the local authorities, the goals will be met," he said.

It is estimated that Phu Quoc needs USD40bn to improve infrastructure by 2030 while the total revenue ranges from USD19bn to USD20bn. When being asked what is the benefits of the zone, Nghi said the gross regional domestic product from 2012 to 2030 would reach USD73bn and boost other aspects. Preferential policies will promote trade and create jobs for 57,000 people. By 2030, the average income in Phu Quoc will be USD13,500 to USD28,600.

Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone was set up earlier than Van Don and Bac Van Phong economic zones and has an annual growth rate of the real gross regional domestic product of 20%. Nghi said both the lives and spirits of local people of have had been improved. The average income in 2015 was USD5,400.

However paranoia still reigns over Phu Quoc’s strategic position. As a result, there are concerns about the national security when more open policies on immigration and housing are applied. Nghi said it was included in all policies.

"Setting up the special economic zone is to help Phu Quoc develop faster but it must be stable and ensure national security," Nghi said.

Kien Giang provincial authorities support the plan to not set up people's committee and people's council for the zone. Everything will be decided by the head of the administrative unit. This decision has caused public concern when power is given to an individual.

Nghi also addressed the concerns and said after the National Assembly approved of the Law on Special Administrative-Economic Units, the provincial authorities have directed to build a human resource plan for the zone in December.

Nghi said, "In order to avoid the abuse of power from those at the top, more monitoring, inspection and power control mechanisms will be applied. National Assembly delegations and the provincial people's council will do all the monitoring and scrutiny work."

The provincial people's council could ask the provincial chairman to report to the prime minister to fire the head of the administrative unit, or halt and scrap unlawful decisions. The administrative unit must publicise all information for the public, Vietnam Fatherland Front, and other organisations in the economic zone.

The head of the administrative unit will also be under the directive of the provincial people's committee in some fields. The head would be responsibility to report to the ministries and prime minister.

Dtinews