The high-quality green tea project died prematurely before it even started.

HIGH EXPECTATIONS

The 1st Youth Volunteer Brigade was the first Youth Volunteer - Economic Development unit of Nghe An province, established after the war in 1986, under the Nghe An Provincial Youth Union, to implement the policy of building a Youth Volunteer - Economic Development model in three communes: Long Son, Khai Son, and Cao Son (in Anh Son district). It was once considered a rapidly developing and effective unit, becoming a typical model and a shining example of socio-economic development in the mountainous areas of Anh Son district in particular and Nghe An province in general. On this occasion, we returned to the brigade's headquarters in Long Son commune; unlike the scene before, now the tea hills are desolate, the roads are damaged, and the headquarters is dilapidated, leaving many feeling disheartened.

The story of the dissolution of the 1st Youth Volunteer Brigade has been mentioned in several recent articles by Nghe An Newspaper.However, considering the plan to dissolve this unit, approved by the Provincial People's Committee in Decision No. 4917/QD-UBND dated October 28, 2015, it is clear that the stated objective has not been achieved.

Specifically, before the dissolution plan was approved, on December 29, 2014, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 7423/QD-UBND.CN approving the investment policy for the Project to build a factory producing Japanese green tea and high-quality green tea (hereinafter referred to as the Japanese Green Tea Project) in Long Son commune (Anh Son district), by Viet Phat Trading and Service Joint Stock Company (Viet Phat Company, headquartered in Hanoi, with Mr. Nguyen Xuan Truong as its legal representative). The project site is the land currently managed and used by the General Youth Volunteer Team 1. The total land area used for the project is approximately 10,077 m².²The project has an operating capacity of approximately 25-30 tons of raw materials per day, with a total estimated investment of 15 billion VND.

By March 18, 2015, the detailed construction plan (1/500 scale) for this project had also been approved by the Provincial People's Committee. The total construction area is 2,478.34 square meters.², with items such as: production workshops, office buildings, assembly halls, service buildings, traffic corridors, and other auxiliary items… Also according to the planning approval decision, the investor is responsible for completing the relevant procedures to start construction within 12 months and completing the construction to put the project into use within a maximum of 24 months from the date the decision takes effect.

Shortly after the detailed plan for this project was approved, on April 14, 2015, the Provincial People's Committee granted an Investment Certificate to Viet Phat Company. In 2017, assets on the land belonging to the Youth Volunteer Brigade No. 1, such as a level 4 cultural center, a two-story office building, a level 1 meeting hall, and two trucks, were auctioned off to Viet Phat Company for over 726 million VND.

To implement this project, Viet Phat Company has committed to taking responsibility for employing all members of the Youth Volunteer Brigade 1; ensuring the implementation of social insurance and health insurance schemes as prescribed by the State; prioritizing employment for brigade members and their children at the factory. At the same time, the company is responsible for purchasing all tea products from Youth Volunteer Brigade 1 and the local people, as well as fulfilling all its corporate obligations to the local community.

"BITTER FRUIT"

The appearance of the Japanese green tea project initially excited the members of the Youth Volunteer Brigade 1. However, what happened afterward was completely the opposite. Instead of implementing the project as initially committed and as stated in the documents approved by the authorities, the investor failed to carry it out, even though they had been granted an extension in 2018.

Subsequently, after the deadline passed, in 2020 this investment project was canceled and the related decisions revoked. The reason given was that the project had exceeded the implementation time according to the registered investment schedule and the permitted extension period, but had not completed land procedures and had not commenced construction on the ground.

On July 23, 2020, the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued Decision No. 2441/QD.UBND terminating the validity of the decisions of the People's Committee of Nghe An province related to the Japanese green tea project in Long Son commune.

It is worth noting that the project to build a Japanese green tea factory was undertaken to contribute to improving production capacity, enhancing the lives of the people and members of the Youth Volunteer Brigade 1, and to ensure the legitimate rights of workers and the proper management of state-owned facilities and assets at Youth Volunteer Brigade 1. However, it "died prematurely" before Youth Volunteer Brigade 1 was officially dissolved (October 19, 2021).

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hao, former Head of the Organization and Administration Department of the 1st Youth Volunteer Brigade and currently the Party Secretary of Hamlet 8, Long Son Commune, stated: At the time the Provincial People's Committee approved the plan to dissolve the 1st Youth Volunteer Brigade, the unit had over 130 officers and members, of which about 60 were covered by social insurance.



Mr. Hao was also on the list of those transferred to work for Viet Phat Company. However, when the project failed, the officers and team members had to find other jobs for themselves, including paying social insurance contributions in the hope of receiving a pension when they reached retirement age.

According to Mr. Hao, after the dissolution plan was approved, 110 households of members from the Youth Volunteer Brigade 1, with over 300 people, were transferred to Hamlet 8, Long Son Commune; 24 households to Khai Son Commune; and 17 households to Cao Son Commune. However, due to incomplete land transfer procedures, since 2014, almost all households have been cultivating the land freely. From approximately 200 hectares of industrial tea plantations when transferred, the area has now decreased by about 40 hectares as some households have switched to planting acacia or cassava. Furthermore, despite growing tea, the lack of a fixed product buyer means the market is very uncertain.

Mr. Dang Van Chuong, former Deputy Commander of the 1st Youth Volunteer Brigade, expressed his concern: Why was the project to build a Japanese green tea production factory terminated more than a year before the official dissolution of the 1st Youth Volunteer Brigade, without any alternative plans, such as attracting other units to invest or developing a restructuring plan to reorganize the 1st Youth Volunteer Brigade for more effective development, instead of dissolving it, resulting in unresolved issues that have dragged on for many years?

According to Decision No. 2441 of the Provincial People's Committee, after the termination of the Provincial People's Committee's decisions regarding the Japanese Green Tea Factory Construction Project, the Anh Son District People's Committee is tasked with coordinating with relevant departments, agencies, and organizations to propose a plan for handling the project land in accordance with the law.

Mr. Bui Cong An, Head of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Anh Son District, said that although the Japanese green tea factory construction project has ended, Viet Phat Company still has assets on the land it won in the auction, and has not built anything further. If this company continues to implement the project, it must redo the procedures and processes to obtain a land lease from the State. If a new investor is found, this company must dispose of its assets to hand over the land.

Clearly, the dissolution of the 1st Youth Volunteer Brigade is a fait accompli, and it serves as a significant lesson in the dissolution, merger, or restructuring of state-controlled enterprises and units. While the decisions may not be changeable, it is crucial to definitively resolve issues related to land handover for effective management, avoiding prolonged delays that could cause public discontent and even lead to illegal transfers, making future handling more difficult.