ĐÀ NẴNG — Special Administrative Economic Units in Việt Nam will face challenges in raising funds from different sources and models in the context of limited State funds over the coming years.

Research Director at the Fulbright Economics Teaching Programme in Việt Nam, Vũ Thành Tự Anh, conveyed the message at a group session on Special Administrative Economic Units and tourism at the APEC Summit on Monday.

These special units, including Vân Đồn in Quảng Ninh Province, Bắc Vân Phong in Khánh Hòa Province and Phú Quốc Island in Kiên Giang Province, should find their own way to create a breakthrough mechanism under the legal and political framework in Việt Nam, Anh said.

“These localities should call for investment from the private sector or public-private partnerships (PPP) in order to develop as Special Administrative Economic Units in Việt Nam over the next decade. Provinces must map out proper mechanisms and policies to open ways for investors to pour money in,” Anh suggested.

“Quảng Ninh Province, for example, has been seen as a forerunner in calling on investment from the private sector in infrastructure development projects in Vân Đồn through drastic administrative reforms, while Phú Quốc has been boosting its tourism projects recently.”

Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyễn Văn Trung said the emergence of the three special economic units has come after long studies of different development models around the world, and the best 13 models had been selected for Việt Nam.

“Many successful models have been used around the world for decades, but have not yet developed in Việt Nam. These units would create rapid economic growth over the next decade, contributing huge revenue to the State budget,” Trung said.

Chairman of Quảng Ninh Province’s People’s Committee Nguyễn Đức Long has called for investment in Vân Đồn as the local government has reserved a large area of land for strategic investors.

“We have planned Vân Đồn as a special economic zone on an area of 581sq.km, and we expect to attract US$12 billion by 2030. There is plenty of land for development of casinos, entertainment projects and luxury resorts,” Long said.

“Construction of an international airport with total investment of $332 million started in Vân Đồn, while a series of expressway projects connecting Vân Đồn with border town of Móng Cái and Hải Phòng City are underway,” Long said, adding that Vân Đồn has attracted $2.5 billion, of which $1 billion was invested by property developer Sun Group.

Phạm Vũ Hồng, chairman of Kiên Giang Province’s People’s Committee, said Phú Quốc Island had been seen as a breadwinner for the provincial coffers since 2004.

He said the island contributed 28 per cent of the provincial Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP).

“The island has developed good infrastructure for tourism with an airport and sea port. It hosts more than 5,000 tourists by air and sea routes each day,” Hồng said, adding that the island’s tourism industry earns a revenue of $410 million each year.   

He said Phú Quốc plans to be a global brand by 2030 with a range of casinos, golf courses and entertainment centres.

Vice chairman of Khánh Hòa Province, Đào Công Thiên, said Bắc Vân Phong is designed as a major logistics centre, offering shipping services, attractive tourism destinations and beach entertainment.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment has proposed many preferential policies on land and taxes to enhance the ability to attract investment capital, especially foreign-invested capital, in three special administrative economic units. — VNS