Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính addresses the conference in Đà Nẵng. Photo courtesy of Lan Anh

ĐÀ NẴNG — Drastic measures and urgent actions are needed to implement the National Assembly’s Resolution No 136 on urban governance model and piloting specific mechanisms-policies for the development of Đà Nẵng City.

That was the message from Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính addressing a conference on the resolution implementation in the central city, stressing that Đà Nẵng should do all its power using innovation, patience and effectiveness in making the resolution possible.

“All specific mechanisms and policies in the resolution are on paper. It needs stronger moves and actions from the city’s administration in implementation of the urban governance model with special mechanism and policies that have yet to be done,” PM Chính said.

Construction of Liên Chiểu Port started in late 2022. The port will be linked to the newly approved Free Trade Zone in Đà Nẵng City. VNS Photo Công Thành

“The resolution would help Đà Nẵng to be an attractive destination of huge investment and a dynamic driving force in central Việt Nam. Đà Nẵng will play as a trail-blazer in the country in building an investment destination with positive changes and innovations in improving economy, investment environment, transparency, publicity and fair competition for global investors.”

The PM said this is a very urgent task as Đà Nẵng and relevant ministries have to submit action plans to the Government for approval in late November before the resolution comes into effect in January, 2025.

PM Chính warned of the challenges that Đà Nẵng will be facing in action plans and said the city should move fast but with care.

The resolution, which was approved in June, is included the establishment of a Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in links with the construction of the deep-sea Liên Chiểu Port, a logistics zone and a production zone related to semiconductors and AI manufacturing.

Nguyễn Thị Bích Ngọc, from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, stressed that Đà Nẵng has been assigned as a typical example of a dynamic and driving force as well as a livable city in Việt Nam in the 21st century.

Nam Ô Bay in Liên Chiểu District has emerged as a space in the establishment of a Free Trade Zone in Đà Nẵng. The area will serve as a logistics and port service in the future. Photo courtesy of Quang Huy

She said the ministry, the mastermind of the resolution, will work with the city in dealing with barriers and difficulties as they develop the resolution.

Vũ Thị Lưu Mai, deputy chairman of the State Budget Commission under the National Assembly, shared that Đà Nẵng will be building the FTZ without regulations in place.

She said for the first time, special mechanism, policies and extraordinary preferential regulations for strategic investors will be expected for the reasonable and flexible solutions from the city’s administration.

Mai said Đà Nẵng has only five years to map out strategic progress in economy, trade, investment and hi-tech industries, and emerge as a typical mechanism model for other provinces and cities building more breadwinning free-trade zone and positive urban governance in the future.

Rồng (Dragon) Bridge spans over the Hàn River in Đà Nẵng. The bridge is a symbol of future growth of a livable city in Việt Nam. Photo courtesy of Lê Lâm

The city’s Party Committee secretary, Nguyễn Văn Quảng said the city also needs stronger cooperation and support from ministries and relevant agencies in successfully building the first ever FTZ in the country, and urban governance administration and a global semiconductor and AI centre.

According to the city, different function sites would be built on an area from 80ha to 200ha in Hoà Vang District, calling for strategic investors with investment fund from VNĐ2 trillion (US$80 million) to VNĐ8 trillion ($320 million) in the FTZ. VNS