Quang Ninh Province is stepping up procedures and site clearance so that work on an airport and a recreational complex including a casino can start in April.

The two projects are important components of Van Don Economic Zone in the northern border province.

Nguyen Van Doc, chairman of Quang Ninh Province, on February 4 made a field trip to check preparations for these key projects in Van Don.

After the inspection, Doc requested the authority of the economic zone to urge investors to accelerate the upgrade of roads including Provincial Road 334, which connect functional areas in the zone.

Regarding Van Don Airport, Doc said site clearance must be completed by March 30 to allow the project to get off the ground in April. He told the provincial Department of Transport to select a contractor for this project within the month.

The provincial chairman requested the investor of the recreational complex to finish a zoning plan and site clearance in the first quarter of this year to make sure this project can be completed together with the airport project.

Leaders of Quang Ninh Province have shown a strong determination to speed up the construction pace of components in Van Don Economic Zone to drive socio-economic development not only in the province but also the Northern Key Economic Region.

Van Don Economic Zone is envisaged covering more than 2,000 square kilometers. It will be developed into a hub for commercial and financial centers, trade and logistics facilities, high-class tourism products, sea and air transport services, industry, clean and high-quality agricultural sector. 

Earlier this year, Quang Ninh Province got the Prime Minister’s nod for a special mechanism on using official development assistance (ODA) loans and State funding for some priority infrastructure projects at Van Don Economic Zone.

As clarified in the Prime Minister’s Decision 2428/QD-TTg, the Government will use the State budget, proceeds from Government bond sales and ODA loans to partially fund Van Don Airport, information technology facilities, Van Don international hospital and trans-island roads in the economic zone.

In addition, the authority of Van Don Economic Zone is allowed to access foreign loans borrowed by the Government to develop tourist port and marina projects.

The Government will consider giving the province the go-ahead to implement some key infrastructure projects under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

The province can establish a State-owned finance and investment company to mobilize funds for infrastructure projects based on the model of the State-owned Finance and Investment Company in HCMC.