Decision No. 1531/QD-TTg of August 30, 2013, approving the scheme on revising the master plan on development of Vietnam’s border-gate economic zones through 2020, with a vision toward 2030

THE PRIME MINISTER

Decision No. 1531/QD-TTg of August 30, 2013, approving the scheme on revising the master plan on development of Vietnam’s border-gate economic zones through 2020, with a vision toward 2030

Pursuant to the December 25, 2001 Law on Organization of the Government;

Pursuant to the National Assembly Standing Committee’s Resolution No. 470/2012/NQ- UBTVQH13 of February 27, 2012, on results of the supervision of implementation of policies and laws on construction and development of economic zones and border-gate economic zones;

Pursuant to the Prime Minister s Decision No. 671/QD-TTg of June 7, 2012, promulgating the plan on implementation of Resolution No. 470/2012/NQ-UBTVQH13 of February 27, 2012;

At the proposal of the Minister of Planning and Investment in Report No. 4195/TTr- BKHDT of June 20, 2013, and Document No. 6024/BKHDT-CLPT of August 20, 2013,

DECIDES:

Article 1. To approve the scheme on revising the master plan on development of Vietnam’s border-gate economic zones through 2020, with a vision toward 2030, with the following principal contents:

1. Viewpoints

a/ To develop border-gate economy and economic zones in association with building and developing friendly, stable and firm political relations between Vietnam and China, Laos and Cambodia. To enhance international cooperation and attract domestic and foreign investment through border-gate economic zones;

b/ To develop border-gate economy and economic zones with a long-term vision and in a priority order for each period, suitable to national development orientations and specific conditions;

c/ To regard economic and political efficiency and national interests as the highest requirement and an important criterion for revising the master plan and development of border-gate economic zones, and fully take into account impacts of the market economy and international economic integration. Parties involved in economic, commercial and investing activities may all benefit from border- gate economy and economic zones;

d/ To build border-gate economic zones in compliance with detailed plans approved by competent authorities, use land according to set roadmaps, and make construction investment in an economical and efficient manner, preventing thinned-out and off-target investment and waste of resources;

dd/ To closely combine border-gate economy development with human resource development, ensuring that the master plan on border-gate economic zone development consistent with master plans on human resources and social infrastructure facilities (schools, healthcare establishments, cultural and sports establishments, and residential areas);

e/ To satisfy environmental protection, national defense and security requirements in the development of border-gate economy and economic zones.

2.   Objectives

a/ Overall objectives

To build border-gate economic zones in border areas into modern and in-line ones serving as driving forces for economic development in provinces bordering on China, Laos and Cambodia. By 2020, the country will have a total of 26 border-gate economic zones, giving priority to investment from the state budget to build complete infrastructure and adopt management organization models, mechanisms and policies for some border- gate economic zones which operate with high efficiency; to assure social security, effectively control and prevent crimes and illegal activities related to border-gate economic zones.

b/ Specific targets

-   To concentrate on completing, building and developing existing border-gate economic zones in a focused manner, aiming to increase investment efficiency.

-   To step up the development of goods trading, import and export, temporary import for re-export, transit, industrial production, tourism and services.

-   By 2020, to strive for a cross-border import-export turnover of around USD 30 billion with an average annual growth rate of 12.3%, of which export turnover will reach around USD 14 billion, import turnover around USD 16 billion. By 2030, the figures will be around USD 50 billion, 22 billion and 28 billion, respectively.

-   By 2020, to receive around 16.5 million tourist arrivals entering Vietnam or exiting Vietnam to neighboring countries through border-gate economic zones, including around 8.5 million from and around 8 million to Vietnam. By 2030, the figures will be around 26 million, 13.2 million and 12.8 million, respectively.

3.   Orientations:

a/ During 2013-2020:

-   To add no new border-gate economic zones in the master plan and postpone permitting the establishment of border-gate economic zones already included in the master plan, which was approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 52/2008/QD-TTg of April 25, 2008;

-   To consolidate 3 (three) border-gate economic zones of Ta Lung, Tra Linh and Soc Giang in Cao Bang province, which have been subject to mechanisms and policies under the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 83/2002/ QD-TTg of June 26, 2002, into a border- gate economic zone of Cao Bang province to facilitate the management and building of a complete and modern infrastructure system and meet the criterion and condition of “covering adjacent administrative units without spatial division” specified in the Government’s Decree No. 29/2008/ND-CP of March 14, 2008;

b/ During 2021-2030: To consider the establishment of border-gate economic zones already included in the master plan approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 52/2008/ QD-TTg of April 25, 2008, only when they fully satisfy the criteria and conditions for establishment prescribed by law.

4. To select some border-gate economic zones to enjoy intensive development investment from the state budget in each period under five-year socio-economic development plans:

a/ During 2013-2015, central budget supports for investment in the development of the infrastructure system applicable to group of 8 (eight) border-gate economic zones selected for intensive investment in the Prime Minister’s Document No. 2074/TTg-KTTH of December 7, 2012, will be at least equal to 70% of total capital in annual plans on support for border- gate economic zones.

b/ After 2015, to evaluate and classify border-gate economic zones according to the approved criteria and conditions for selection and intensive investment.

c/ Border-gate economic zones that are not selected for intensive investment may enjoy the central budget’s partial supports for completing a number of essential infrastructure facilities under construction. Local administrations shall actively mobilize capital sources and apply various investment forms to build the infrastructure system of border-gate economic zones in their localities.

5. To further study and make amendments and supplementations to improve development mechanisms and policies applicable to border- gate economic zones.

Article 2. Organization of implementation

1. Dissemination of the master plan: To publicize the scheme on revising the master plan on Vietnam’s border-gate economic zone development through 2020 with a vision toward 2030, after the master plan is approved by the Prime Minister. Ministries, sectors and localities shall formulate plans to implement the master plan on border-gate economic zone development suitable to each development period.

2. To assign the Ministry of Planning and Investment:

a/ To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and related ministries, sectors and localities in, continuing to provide support: capital from the central budget for investment in the development of infrastructure of border-gate economic zones in each five-year period. The allocation of capital for works and projects in border-gate economic zones must comply with law;

b/ To assume the prime responsibility and act as the focal point for monitoring the implementation of the scheme, and report to the Prime Minister problems arising in the course of scheme implementation.

Article 3. Implementation provision

This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing. The contents not guided in this Decision still comply with the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 52/2008/QD-TTg of April 25, 2008.

Article 4. Ministers, heads of ministerial- level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, and chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees shall implement this Decision.-

Prime Minister

NGUYEN TAN DUNG