The 500ha Sài Gòn Safari Park has been added to the list of projects in which HCM City is soliciting investment. — Photo ndh.vn

HCM CITY — The Sài Gòn Safari Park has been added to the list of projects in which HCM City is soliciting investment, the director of the Department of Planning and Investment, Lê Thị Huỳnh Mai, said.

The 500ha safari, to be situated in An Nhơn Tây and Phú Mỹ Hưng communes in Củ Chi District, began to acquire land in 2004.

The project was handed over to Vingroup in 2016, but the firm recently decided to pull out to focus on other projects.

Around 700 households were relocated but many were not paid the right compensation amount, and some have gone to court, which is one more reason for the delay.

So far, many years after work on it first began, only the land acquisition for some small construction works have been completed.

Speaking at a seminar held to review the city’s socio-economic performance in the first four months of this year, chairman of the city People’s Committee Nguyễn Thành Phong expressed concern over the delay in many major projects, including the Sài Gòn Safari Park, with some remaining only on paper.

Continued delay would lead to wastage of resources, he said.

HCM City plans to choose one major project and finish it quickly to encourage investment in those in which it is seeking investment.

Some investors have said they are hesitant to invest in the Sài Gòn Safari Park because the chances of recovering their investment are not high.

The city has yet to offer specific incentives for the safari project, they added.

There are 14 tourism- and entertainment-related projects awaiting investment, 11 being part of the Natural Cultural and Historical Park in District 9, that investors have expressed interest in. — VNS