Decision No. 1856/QD-TTg dated December 27, 2018 of the Prime Minister on approval of master plan for socio-economic development of Van Don Economic Zone, Quang Ninh province by 2030 with vision to 2050

THE PRIME MINISTER

DecisionNo. 1856/QD-TTg dated December 27, 2018 of the Prime Minister onapproval of master plan for socio-economic development of Van Don Economic Zone, Quang Ninh province by 2030 with vision to 2050

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Government Organization dated June 19, 2015;

Pursuant to the Government s Decree No. 92/2006/ND-CP dated September 7, 2006 on formulation, approval and management of the master plan for socio-economic development; the Government’s Decree No. 04/2008/ND-CP dated January 11, 2008 on amendments and supplements to certain articles of the Government s Decree No. 92/2006/ND-CP dated September 7, 2006;

After considering the request of the People’s Committee of Quang Ninh province made in the Statement No. 7966/UBND-TTr dated October 29, 2018, the Report No. 243/UBND-QH2 dated December 11, 2018 and the Statement No. 8950/TTr-BKHDT dated December 17, 2018 of the Ministry of Planning and Investment,

HEREBY DECIDES

Article 1.Approval of the master plan for socio-economic development of Van Don Economic Zone, Quang Ninh province by 2030 with vision to 2050, including the following main contents:

I. DEVELOPMENTAL VIEWPOINTS

1. Ensure the fast and sustainable socio-economic development in Van Don Economic Zone based on the maximization of the potentials and advantages of Van Don District; transform the economic structure in width into the one in depth based on advanced scientific and technological foundations; promote internal forces and attract external forces.

2. Ensure that Van Don Economic Zone is developed to create breakthroughs, focus on sectors and industries having competitive advantages and bringing about socio-economic benefits, but must comply with environmental regulations and maintain social security according to the current laws of Vietnam.

3. Ensure that Van Don Economic Zone provides the main resource for development, especially the service sector development, infrastructure construction and manufacturing sector development, based on attraction of domestic and foreign strategic investors.

4. Closely combine the socio-economic development with maintenance of national defense and security, protection of national independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, assurance of national interests, maintenance of political stability and social order; at the same time, protect environment, strengthen and expand external relations.

II. DEVELOPMENTAL OBJECTIVES

1. By 2030

a) Overall objectives: Develop Van Don Economic Zone into a green, modern and smart sea island city; an economic and cultural center in the region with a focus on developing the service sector and other industries using scientific and technological advances, developing trades and technologies which are innovative and reach high standards, especially logistics, high-end tourism and modern entertainment industry at the international level, and hi-tech industries; an international center for business start-up, creativity and trades in the region.

b) Specific objectives:

- Economy:

By 2020 and in the periods of 2021 – 2025 and 2026 – 2030, the average increase in GRDP is expected to be 25%, 29% and 23%/year, respectively.

By 2030, total production value is expected to gain USD 5.6 billion equivalent to USD 1.6 billion in GRDP; contribute 10% of production value to the state budget revenues.

The economic structure has shifted towards focusing on developing important economic sectors, bringing about high economic efficiency, attracting highly qualified human resources and taking advantage of Van Don s competitive advantages, including the following industries: Tourism, culture and creativity services, manufacturing and logistics.

- Society:

By 2020 and in the periods of 2021 – 2025 and 2026 – 2030, the average population growth is expected to be 6%, 11% and 8%, respectively. The population scale is expected to increase from 52 thousand in 2019 to 140 thousand in 2030.

By 2030, create 89 thousand jobs (including approximately 31 thousand in tourism; approximately 6 thousand in services, culture and creativity activities; approximately 12 thousand in manufacturing and logistics services; and around 40 thousand in other sectors).

Develop the uniform medical network which ensures all people can access to high-quality medical services; by 2030, strive to achieve the ratio of 15 doctors/ 10 thousand of population and 3 pharmacists/ 10 thousand of population; 64.9 medical beds/ 10 thousand of population; maintain 100% of communes satisfying the set of national standards concerning commune-level health care services; ensure more than 95% of population participate in the health insurance program.

- Environment:

By 2030, the forest cover is expected to be more than 60%; 100% of city-dwellers have access to clean water and 100% of rural residents use sanitary water.

By 2030, 100% of communes will have cemeteries and waste collection and handling services; 100% of medical wastes, solid wastes and garbage will be collected and disposed of by using advanced technologies.

Maintain, preserve and develop Bai Tu Long National Park to ensure a sustainable and high quality living environment based on the effective exploitation of natural resources without causing any environmental harm by applying strict measures to avoid environmental pollution and enrich the living environment.

- National defense and security: Establish strongholds to protect national independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity; assure national interests, maintain political stability, social order and safety.

2. By 2050

Build and develop Van Don Economic Zone to become one of the driving forces for economic development of Vietnam, hold a position in the leading group of most livable cities in the Asia - Pacific region.

Economy: Deserve to be a dynamic economic center that focus on development of tourism, manufacturing of high-end products and services; an international trade center in the region.

Society: Strive to be a modern and smart city; a place attractive to people to reside, work and play amidst nature.

Environment: Ensure hygienic and sanitary environment based on application of green and eco-friendly technologies.

III. ORIENTATION TOWARDS DEVELOPMENT OF SECTORS AND INDUSTRIES

1. Tourism

Make effective use of the potentials in world natural heritage sites in the region and traditional cultural heritage sites in the country; create a friendly and attractive tourism environment combined with building and perfecting a synchronous tourism infrastructure system to develop the tourism sector. Strive to attract about 2.5 million of visitors by 2030, including more than 170 thousand of foreign visitors to Van Don.

2. Modern tourism

Focus on developing and trading airports and air transport; promote the logistics industry to make Van Don become a center of world-class logistics services, a transshipment hub of freight into the Southeast Asia region; promote certain cinematographic, fashion and international event organization services, etc.

By 2030, strive to make Van Don become a developed financial center in the Asia – Pacific region.

3. Hi-tech industries

Place emphasis on developing a number of hi-tech industries such as medicine, biology and nanotechnology; developing the information technology in production systems and technologies using advanced materials, energy and environmental technologies.

4. Agriculture

Develop Eco agriculture and hi-tech agriculture aimed at serving the demands of on-site tourism services; develop the sustainable aquaculture powered by clean and safe technologies; develop forest resources associated with the sustainable tourism. Develop the sustainable marine economy on the basis of maximizing natural conditions, diversity of the ecosystem associated with maintaining national defense, security and protecting rights and jurisdiction over the territorial waters.

5. Other social sectors

a) Human resources, training and education

Improve the quality of existing training and education establishments and expand the educational network to all sectors. Focus on developing human resources to serve the demands for development of preferred sectors and industries such as tourism, modern tourism, hi-tech industries and agriculture.

b) Healthcare

Perfectly develop preventive medicine systems, invest in modern medical equipment to meet the people s medical examination and treatment needs; encourage the development of private healthcare service providers that meet international standards; increase the capabilities of meeting the needs for health services in order to provide healthcare services for people residing in remote, isolated and island areas; practice the good management of health service costs and have appropriate policies for groups of low-income earners.

c) Culture, information and sports

Ensure that the development of culture, information and sports is in sync with the economic development; encourage the development of high-value cultural and information services and products; conserve and promote traditional cultural identities. By 2030, strive to ensure an adequate number of institutions pertaining to culture, sports and information technology infrastructure are provided to all areas in island communes; ensure that 100% of family households may access to information and communications systems.

d) Social security

Ensure that low-income earners have access to high quality education services to improve their qualifications and get more job opportunities; continue to support disadvantaged groups to achieve social equality with the goal of not having poor households in Van Don; at the same time, help residential households to transform the production model to high-value industries to increase their income in a sustainable manner.

6. Science and technology

Intensify application of advanced scientific achievements and modern technologies to develop advantageous sectors and industries, and application of the information technology in the management, administration and operation of production systems; encourage enterprises to apply scientific advances to manufacturing, processing and consumption of products in this economic zone.

7. Infrastructure systems

a) Traffic system

- Aviation transport: Plan to develop an international airport in the west of Cai Bau island into an airport that reaches 4E standards, a level-II military airport, and an airport serving both civil and military purposes; study the construction of a number of heliports (helicopter taxi airports) on islands so as to facilitate the travel between Van Don and Ha Long, Mong Cai and certain other islands; develop hydroplane services to serve the tourism and cargo transportation needs.

- Road transport: Finish building the Ha Long - Van Don Expressway, speed up the construction of the Van Don – Mong Cai expressway, and the construction of bridges connecting to Van Don Economic Zone. Focus on investment in completion of building of trans-island roads; coastal roads; trans-commune roads and axis roads at island communes.

- Sea transport: Establish seaports and develop the maritime shipping according to the schedule aligned with the schedule of development of seaports and the shipping demands during the planning period.

b) Development of power supply systems and grids: Implement renewable energy projects in order to ensure a stable power supply with priority given to development of solar, wind and biomass energy projects. Upgrade electricity transmission networks; develop and implement measures to ensure sustainable, stable and eco-friendly power supply to all households by 2025 with the aim of minimizing electricity waste.

c) Water supply and drainage system: Research and apply a number of advanced technology solutions in the field of clean water treatment to ensure 100% of the population can use clean water in accordance with prescribed standards; maintain water pollution limits for tourist areas and other residential areas according to international standards.

d) Information and communications system: Focus on investing in information technology and communications infrastructure; develop important communications facilities that provide public internet services in order to improve efficiency and transparency in state management and other economic activities.

8. Environmental protection and climate change adaptation

Excel at performing the tasks of protecting environment; impose strict sanctions on cases of causing water and air pollution; improve disposal of urban wastes and diminish pollution caused by vessels, tourists and population. Practice the good management and protection of sea and coastal ecosystems; marine biodiversity; proactively respond to climate change, sea level rise, prevent and control natural disasters. Strive for the sustainable management and the effective exploitation of natural resources, and minimization of human impacts on environment by 2030.

9. Maintenance of national defense, social security and safety

Strengthen national defense potentials associated with reinforcement of the all-people national defense and security posture in the locality; ensure the good handling of situations at sea and maintenance of national independence, sovereignty, sovereign rights and national interests on territorial waters. Successfully perform the tasks of combating and controlling offences, social evils and hi-tech crimes; ensure that the economic development is closely associated with maintenance of national defense and security in all sectors; curb and hold down traffic accidents, especially waterway traffic accidents, implement measures to prevent the illegal exploitation of natural resources, create favorable conditions for socio-economic development.

IV. SPATIAL LAYOUT OF VAN DON ECONOMIC ZONE

1. Development of core components of the spatial layout

The spatial layout for development of Van Don Economic Zone must comprise custom-made and high-quality tourist sites; airport and seaport; high-end service areas; service support center for marine products, rescue center and coast guard.

2. Development of urban spaces

Organize and divide spaces for urban development which are flexible and relevant to developmental conditions over periods of time; orientate urban spaces towards modern urban areas that reach international levels, specifically including:

a) Urban spaces on Cai Bau island, including: Economic zone in the west; northern coastal area; airport city – free trade zone; resort complex; Cai Rong town and Welcome Gate peninsula.

b) Urban spaces on Van Hai archipelago, including: Park; agricultural tourism area; resort and relaxation areas and tourism island in the future.

c) Central urban spaces, including: Cai Rong administrative – urban center; creative industrial park; biotechnology zone; creative service zone; advanced production and logistics area; manufacturing area; airport area; free trade zone; technological valley; administrative center; resettlement area; cultural exhibition center; tourist and entertainment service area; tourist seaport, fish port and landscape reservoirs.

V. SECTORS AND PROGRAMS GIVEN INVESTMENT PREFERENCE

Sectors, programs and projects given investment preference shall be determined by assessing the continual implementation of active programs and projects in the province and Van Don Economic Zone (refer to appendices hereto).

VI. MAJOR MEASURES TO IMPLEMENT THIS PLANNING SCHEME

1. Investment capital mobilization

Develop appropriate policies to call investment capital from abroad and other domestic economic sectors. Develop a financial center in order to mobilize investment capital.

Concentrate on mobilizing funds through land in a form of preferential rents for land and water surfaces used for business purposes; from investments in infrastructure under a build and transfer contract; revenues generated from investment real estate services.

Boost up investment promotion activities in order to call for domestic and foreign strategic investors.

2. Human resource training

Develop policies to attract talents, in general, and qualified and experienced foreign scientists to work and train sustainable human resources for the Economic Zone; cooperate with scientific and technological organizations to promote startup creativity; promote internship opportunities through cooperation with engineering companies and universities.

3. Science and technology

Strengthen the research, application and transfer of modern scientific achievements and advanced techniques intended for development of production, business and optimal control of energy and natural resource use. Adopt policies to encourage all economic sectors to accelerate the application of modern and advanced technologies in the development of renewable energy, wastewater and waste treatment to meet environmental requirements.

4. Environmental protection and sustainable development

Zone specific areas for environmental protection in order to effectively control the environmental pollution level. Carry out the assessment of environmental impacts that may be caused by all investment programs and projects in the Economic Zone in accordance with laws on environment; promote the surveillance of environmentally polluting activities and carry out the periodic observation of quality of water in the bay.

5. Developmental cooperation

Strengthen cooperation with local localities to attract investors to build infrastructure, train human resources and develop tourism, especially in Ha Long, Co To, Hanoi and Hai Phong. Improve relationships with airlines of ASEAN countries to open routes to Van Don International Airport according to the approved plan; enter into partnership with tourism agencies of ASEAN countries to promote tourism development in Van Don Economic Zone and Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long National Park.

Article 2. Implementation

1. The Minister of Planning and Investment and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Quang Ninh province shall be fully responsible to the Prime Minister, inspecting and auditing bodies for information, data and reports provided in the aforesaid documentation submitted to the Prime Minister.

2. People’s Committee of Quang Ninh province:

- Ensure the master plan for socio-economic development of Van Don Economic Zone, Quang Ninh province by 2030 with vision to 2050 is implemented without prejudice to other relevant planning schemes approved by competent authorities. Cooperate with relevant ministries and sectoral administration in closely supervising planning for and allocation of land for implementation of projects and assessing investor’s competencies in order to prevent pending projects; review and determine secured areas where foreign organizations and individuals are not allowed to own their real property; adopt the mechanism for strict management of foreigner s activities in the Economic Zone.

- In the course of implementation of the Planning Scheme, it shall be necessary to assess natural disaster risks and respond to climate change in order to serve the sustainable development purposes. Construction of traffic and transport systems in Van Don Economic Zone will cause no adverse impacts on safety of dykes and other natural disaster prevention and control facilities.

- Carry out the management of forest areas in accordance with laws on management, protection and development of forests and the Directive No. 13-CT/TW dated January 12, 2017 of the CPV Central Committee’s Secretariat.

- Receive opinions from ministries, sectoral administrations with special attention paid to contents of this document during the process of implementation of the master plan for socio-economic development of Van Don Economic Zone, Quang Ninh province by 2030 with vision towards 2050; review contents of this Planning Scheme and integrate them into contents of the Planning Scheme of Quang Ninh province for the period of 2021 – 2030 with visions towards 2050 in accordance with the Law on Planning.

- Prepare the strategic environment assessment report in accordance with laws on environmental protection.

3. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall provide the People’s Committee of Quang Ninh province with instructions for preparation of the strategic environment assessment report with a view to ensuring that it meets requirements concerning conservation and embellishment of cultural heritage sites, natural resources, biodiversity and other environmental remediation issues in accordance with laws on environment.

4. The Ministry of National Defense shall preside over and cooperate with Quang Ninh province to actualize tasks of maintaining national defense, security and order according to the principles of socio-economic development associated with maintenance of national defense, security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Article 3.This Decision  takes effect on the signing date.

Ministers, Heads of Ministry-level agencies, Heads of Governmental bodies, and Chairman of People’s Committee of Quang Ninh province, shall be responsible for implementing this Decision./.

For the Prime Minister

Deputy Prime Minister

Trinh Dinh Dung 

APPENDIX I

CHART OF SECTORS AND PROGRAMS GIVEN INVESTMENT PREFERENCE
 (Attached to the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1856/QD-TTg dated December 27, 2018)

APPENDIX II

CHART OF SECTORS AND PROJECTS GIVEN INVESTMENT PREFERENCE
 (Attached to the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1856/QD-TTg dated December 27, 2018)