Developing Phu Quoc into a special economic zone

The Prime Minister asked Phu Quoc to find every way to strongly develop tourism activities.

The Government will develop a project to develop Phu Quoc into a special economic administrative zone and report to the Politburo - Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung affirmed this on December 15 at the conference to review the implementation of Decision 178 of 2004 of the Prime Minister on the "Project for the overall development of Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang Province to 2010 and vision to 2020".

The conference took place in Phu Quoc island district with the participation of Standing member of the Secretariat Le Hong Anh, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh, Head of the Steering Committee for the Southwest, leaders of relevant ministries, branches and key leaders of Kien Giang province and Phu Quoc island district.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung: Phu Quoc maximizes its potential and advantages to serve socio-economic development - Photo: VGP

According to the report of Kien Giang province, the Southwest Steering Committee and the opinions of central ministries and branches at the conference: After nearly 8 years of implementing Decision 178 of the Prime Minister, it has created conditions for Phu Quoc to change very clearly, especially the economy growing at an average of 22%/year, the average income per capita reaching 50 million VND/year, the number of tourists increasing at an average of 13%/year... The essential infrastructure system has been planned and invested in, including putting the modern Phu Quoc International Airport into operation.

The leaders of Phu Quoc district mentioned the fact that among 219 investment projects in Phu Quoc, there are only about 8 to 10 foreign investors but the investment scale is small, while the investment procedures and site clearance still have many shortcomings. In addition to the master plan and construction plan, Phu Quoc is also in great need of central support in architectural planning with specific and characteristic criteria.

Some opinions say that Phu Quoc also needs its own financial operating mechanism as well as requesting the central government to allocate concentrated capital to invest in the rapid construction of essential infrastructure. Kien Giang province also proposed that the Politburo issue a specialized Resolution on the development of Phu Quoc island until 2020, and the Government issue a Decree with mechanisms and policies associated with the specific model of Phu Quoc...

Concluding the conference, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung expressed his delight at the remarkable progress of Phu Quoc island district. Notably, economic growth increased nearly 5 times compared to 2004 when implementing Decision 178, per capita income increased much higher than the national average, for the first time after the country's independence and peace, a completely new international airport was built in Phu Quoc...

The Prime Minister requested the Party Committee and the government of Phu Quoc district to focus on handling the remaining limitations and shortcomings, especially in the settlement of land complaints, strengthening management according to planning... and this is also the first task that Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung emphasized for Phu Quoc: "Now the province coordinates with the Ministry of Construction to hire foreign consultants, update and supplement the planning in the direction of building Phu Quoc, first to become a city under the province, then form a special economic administrative zone under the central government with many preferential policies and mechanisms."

In the process of focusing on socio-economic development, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung requested Kien Giang province, Phu Quoc district and central ministries and branches to find every way to strongly develop tourism activities. The Government will allow all airlines to fly directly to Phu Quoc, and is ready to exempt entry and exit visas for international visitors for temporary stays from 15 days to 30 days. Phu Quoc district focuses on promoting the strengths of the sea industry, especially fishing and aquaculture in the direction of processing to serve tourism activities associated with building the pepper brand.

The Prime Minister requested the Phu Quoc District Party Committee to be determined to have no more poor households, to strengthen the construction of new rural areas, and to develop education and healthcare in a synchronous manner. The relevant ministries, branches, and enterprises, together with Kien Giang Province and Phu Quoc District, strive to bring high-voltage electricity to the island on schedule by the end of 2014; to calculate reserves and effective methods to provide enough fresh water for daily use for residents and tourists.

Regarding essential transport infrastructure projects, the Prime Minister affirmed that the Government will calculate the capital source to ensure the progress of construction of the North-South traffic axis and the road around Phu Quoc island, and the local government must do a good job of propaganda and mobilizing people to support the site clearance work. The Prime Minister especially reminded the Phu Quoc district government to resolutely protect the environment, resolutely preserving 37,000 hectares of primary forest and coastal environment...

Also at the conference, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Standing member of the Secretariat Le Hong Anh, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh, leaders of the Southwest Steering Committee, central ministries and branches gave directions on how to resolve many recommendations from Kien Giang province to promote the development of Phu Quoc island. Along with the issuance of new decisions by the Prime Minister, Decrees with preferential policies and mechanisms associated with the characteristics of Phu Quoc, the Government will also develop a Project to develop Phu Quoc into a special economic administrative zone to report to the Politburo....

On the occasion of his visit and work in Phu Quoc, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Standing member of the Secretariat Le Hong Anh and the Government delegation offered incense to commemorate heroic martyrs at the Phu Quoc island district martyrs' cemetery./.

According to (vov.vn) - LT