QUẢNG NINH — The People’s Committee of the north-eastern Quảng Ninh Province is calling for an investment of VNĐ15 trillion (US$660.8 million) into five projects.

The projects, in the Vân Đồn special administrative-economic zone, include the Phượng Hoàng Island resort with an estimated capital of VNĐ5.5 trillion on an area of 691ha, Nất Đất Island tourism complex with an investment of VNĐ3.15 trillion, Cái Bầu Island Resort, Hotel and Golf Course complex with VNĐ3.5 trillion, Hòn Soi Nhụ Island Resort complex with VNĐ637 billion and Hòn Chín tourism complex with VNĐ2.5 trillion.

According to the provincial Department of Tourism and Economic Zone management board, many foreign investors have plans to invest into big projects in the province.

In its development plan, Quảng Ninh has called for investments into 14 big-scale property and resort projects in the 2016-20 period, as well as others to develop four key tourism centres, including Hạ Long, Móng Cái - Trà Cổ, Vân Đồn - Cô Tô and Uông Bí - Đông Triều - Quảng Yên.

The province has give priority to two projects, which could help promote tourism, including Vân Đồn International Airport and a resort complex with a casino.

The Economic Zone management board said many large projects with an investment of several billions of dollars from the United States, China and Thailand have been implemented in the province.

Quảng Ninh submitted a proposal to the government to offer preferences in terms of the business environment at the Vân Đồn special administrative-economic zone.

Accordingly, the zone would have mechanisms to reduce the number of business lines with conditions and to remove the limits in investment conditions for foreign investors in sectors that the province prioritises for development.

The municipal Department of Planning and Investment said that by the end of this year, the province will have 2,240 newly-established firms, with a total registered capital of VNĐ12.9 trillion, posting 32 per cent and 9.3 per cent increases in terms of capital, respectively.

In addition, some 500 businesses resumed their operations this year, increasing 44 per cent from the previous year. The total number of operating companies in the province was 14,900, with a total registered capital of VNĐ148 trillion.

The department said it has taken drastic measures to untie businesses’ difficulties to expand their production and trading.

Earlier, Prime Minister, Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, had given the northern province of Quảng Ninh the go-ahead to develop the Vân Đồn Economic Zone as a special administrative-economic unit.

Vân Đồn District comprises over 600 islands and is located around 175km from Hà Nội, 80km from Hải Phòng City and 50km from Hạ Long City. The district encompasses the World Heritage site, Hạ Long Bay. It covers a total area of 2,171sq.m, of which natural land is 551sq.m.

The district is sparsely populated and its total population is 41,645 people. With the variety and uniqueness of the archipelago, rich ecosystems and beautiful beaches, the islands have the potential to become a world-class maritime tourism destination. — VNS