Let the "sparrows" occupy the special economic zone land, the "eagles" have no place to nest!

Chairman of the Economic Committee Vu Hong Thanh is the former Deputy Secretary of the Quang Ninh Provincial Party Committee.

- According to calculations, the 3 special economic zones are expected to need huge investment sources, up to over 1 million billion VND, of which, according to the projects built by the localities, Phu Quoc is expected to need about 40 billion USD, Van Don about 270,000 billion VND... by 2030. Is the problem of attracting capital for the special economic zones feasible, sir?

- Don't panic about this issue. Consider Quang Ninh's approach, the government only provides seed capital, and the rest is to find other ways to attract foreign capital.

- At the discussion session on the draft law on Special Administrative-Economic Units (Special Zones) at the National Assembly a few days ago, delegate Truong Trong Nghia (HCMC) analyzed that the establishment of special zones is not just the formation of normal administrative units but a large public investment project when the state has to set aside thousands of kilometers of land and sea with rich natural resources to attract investment. In addition, the State has invested hundreds of thousands of billions of VND in these areas to build roads, electricity, water, airports, ports... and will invest more than 1.5 million billion VND in technical infrastructure. Do you disagree with this opinion?

- I argued with delegate Truong Trong Nghia that this is not a public investment project. Of course, saying that does not mean that the State has no involvement in it, but what we propose is the policy, the mechanism and the State's seed capital to pour into essential stages to create an environment, create a mechanism to attract investment from domestic and foreign enterprises.

The important thing is to attract strategic investors, world-leading enterprises with technology and potential to come here. The thinking and mechanism need to be breakthrough. That is the meaning of the special economic zone.

- Another current story happening in the 3 future special economic zones that many National Assembly delegates are worried about and public opinion is also "hot" is that although the law has not been passed, there is only information about the establishment of special economic zones, land in Van Don, Phu Quoc, Van Phong is in chaos. When basic resources are shared so fragmentedly, how will the special economic zones attract investment?

- In Quang Ninh, all land transactions and projects have stopped. When I was working in Quang Ninh (in the previous term, Mr. Vu Hong Thanh was Deputy Secretary of the Quang Ninh Provincial Party Committee - PV), there was already such a policy. Behind the scenes, the "underground" market may also be there. However, it must be emphasized that the policy of Quang Ninh leaders is to stop all land transactions and transfers here.

Recently, Mr. Doc, Secretary of Quang Ninh, went directly to Van Don, directed to stop certifying transactions and transfers, waiting for the Special Economic Zone Law before implementing this and that.

I affirm that, since I was in Quang Ninh, I stopped all projects to reserve land for special economic zones.

- In Phu Quoc, recently, the Chairman of this island district was also reprimanded for lax land management. In a recent workshop, the chief economist of the World Bank also warned that there would be a “race to the bottom” with the 3 special economic zones. Is this concern well-founded and how will it affect the future of the special economic zones, sir?

- The report on the review of the Law on Special Economic Zones also warned about that. We must do something to stop this phenomenon, otherwise the land has become "hot", has been bought and sold, and transferred, then later there will be nothing left to attract and pull investors in. We must definitely stop that.

Of course, there are also many opinions that stopping this is this and that, but if we let the underground forces annex all the land, then later when the "eagles" come, there will be no place to "nest" because the "sparrows and woodpeckers" will have occupied all the land.

- So what about the concerns about economic transition when investors focus on special economic zones when many priorities and incentives are given to these areas that already have many advantages, causing other localities to not be able to attract the necessary resources, sir?

- There must be a filter. If the "eagles" come in here, the "sparrows and woodpeckers" must go somewhere else.

Thank you!