Decision No. 264/2005/QD-TTg dated October 25, 2005 of the Prime Minister approving the Scheme on socio-economic development in Con Dao district, Ba Ria – Vung Tau province, till 2020

DECISION

APPROVING THE SCHEME ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN CON DAO DISTRICT, BA RIA – VUNG TAU PROVINCE, TILL 2020

THE PRIME MINISTER

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

At the proposal of the People’s Committee of Ba Ria – Vung Tau province in Report No. 7370/TTr-UB dated December 24, 2004, and Official Letter No. 5779/UBND-VP dated October 10, 2005;

At the proposal of the Ministry of Planning and Investment in Official Letter No. 1032-BKH/TD&GSDT dated February 21, 2005; and on the basis of the opinions of concerned ministries, agencies,

DECIDES:

Article 1.

To approve the Scheme on socio-economic development in Con Dao district, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, till 2020, with the following development viewpoints, objectives, tasks, solutions and orientations:

1. Development viewpoints:

- To build Con Dao district into a high-quality economic-tourist and service zone in association with conservation and embellishment of Vietnam's special revolutionary relics and development and raising of the value of Con Dao national park.

- To build Con Dao district to suit its position of an outpost, actively contributing to the process of opening up the country and integrating into the global economy, preserving national defense and security in close combination with development of the entire southern region of Vietnam.

- Con Dao district must be developed with a long-term vision toward modernity, stability, sustainability and effectiveness with appropriate steps, creating a breakthrough right in the initial stage, bringing into full play its potentials and advantages.

2. Development objectives:

a) To develop Con Dao district into a modern and unique economic-tourist zone of regional and international importance.

b) In the period from now to 2020, to strive to attain:

- A population of around 50,000.

- An average per-capita GDP of around US$900-1,000 by 2010; and around US$1,800-2,000 by 2020.

- About 200,000-250,000 tourists/year by 2010; and 500,000-700,000 tourists/year by 2020.

3. Tasks and major solutions:

a) To renovate, protect, embellish and upgrade historical relics:

- To build a branch of the Vietnam Revolutionary Historical Museum.

- To arrange halls for display of exhibits, pictures, photos and models of typical prisons or prison quarters, where national revolutionaries were jailed during the wars against the French colonialists and American imperialists, in the premises of Con Dao prison.

- To conserve and embellish Hang Duong cemetery and other revolutionary historical relics and vestiges of Con Dao district.

b) To develop high quality sea-island tourism with diversified and attractive eco-tourist zones and cultural tourist-historical relic zones.

c) To conserve and promote the value of Con Dao national park. To attach importance to protecting and preserving the existing greenery; to plant a number of appropriate tree species in Con Dao district; to encourage people to plant trees in order to create green, clean and beautiful landscapes in service of tourist development.

d) To build infrastructure, especially infrastructure in service of tourist development. To build tourist routes between the island and the mainland, domestic tourist sites and regional countries.

e) Industrial development:

- To develop a high-grade marine product processing industry in service of tourism and export; mechanical engineering for repair of ships and means of transport, and construction machines.

- To exploit wall-covering and flooring stones and construction stones to an extent not causing harm to the island's landscape or environment.

f) To develop marine resources and agriculture:

- To develop the rearing of sea specialties, especially pearl-oysters and caged fishes in service of life, export and tourism.

- To exploit marine resources of high export value in association with building a fishing port and anchorage area.

- To develop diversified agriculture with typical products such as specialty animals, fruits, vegetables and fresh flowers for local consumers and tourists.

g) Trade and service development:

- To strongly develop trade between the island and the mainland.

- To develop a system of marketplaces in Con Dao township, Ben Dam area and Co Ong area.

- To build material foundations for Con Dao to become a sea service, search, and rescue and salvage center.

h) Infrastructure development:

- Traffic and transport system:

+ Roads: To upgrade trans-island roads; to build roads around the island; to build a route linking Co Ong with Dam Tre; to build and renovate a system of intra-town roads of Con Dao township.

+ Seaways: To upgrade Ben Dam fishing port; to build a maritime trade and service and petroleum service port in Ben Dam; to build a tourist port in Con Son bay and passenger-landing stages on islands.

+ Airways: To complete Co Ong airport.

- Water supply and drainage:

+ Water supply: To build a water supply system with a capacity of 5,000 m3/day by 2010. To build a system of reservoirs in locations where conditions permit.

+ Water drainage: To renovate the water drainage system in Con Dao central area and build new water drainage systems for other areas.

- Electricity supply: To develop an electricity supply network, first of all, from the central area to Ben Dam area and Co Ong area, along the tourist route around the island.

To expand a diesel-fueled power plant with a capacity tripling the existing capacity. For localities where people live dispersedly, to develop solar energy grids. When oil and gas are available, to study the building of a thermo-power plant on the island.

- Post and telecommunications: In order to ensure communication between the island and the mainland and activities on the sea, in the 10 coming years, to concentrate efforts on developing the island's post and telecommunications by upgrading equipment of 3 post offices (in the central area, Ben Dam and Co Ong), ensuring convenient international communication. To develop a telecommunications system in service of offshore fishing, salvage and rescue. To build a television relay station with a capacity of 300 W.

i) Socio-cultural development:

- To expand and develop general education schools on the island to keep pace with the population development. To consolidate schools and classrooms up to national standards.

- To build a military-cum-civil health center with adequate modern equipment, doctors, assistant doctors, nurses, midwives, and medicines, etc., in service of the people.

- To set up two more cultural centers in Ben Dam and Co Ong; build libraries, physical training and sport centers, and stadiums.

- To build an electronic information system.

j) Socio-economic spatial organization:

A green, open and modern space must be created to meet immediate and long-term demands. To build 3 areas, namely the central area, Ben Dam area and Co Ong area, with a view to forming urban centers based on existing population quarters. To closely manage and rationally use land funds in order to meet the requirements of socio-economic development of Con Dao district. k) Natural resource and environmental protection:

In socio-economic development, especially development of high quality tourism, there should be solutions to natural resource and environmental protection for sustainable development. Investment projects in Con Dao district must strictly observe the provisions of law on natural resources and environmental protection; solid waste, especially toxic and hazardous waste and hospital waste, must be well treated; water, before being discharged, must be treated to reach B standards. The province should invest in construction of a wastewater and waste treatment plant, striving to recycle a number of waste matters into materials in service of production and life.

l) Defense and security consolidation:

- To efficiently implement the Prime Minister's Decision No. 107/2002/QD-TTg dated August 12, 2002, approving the master plan on coordinated defense and socio-economic development till 2010.

- To maintain security and defense and social order and safety in Con Dao district in all circumstances.

Article 2.

Development investment stages

1. From now till 2010:

- To concentrate efforts on building infrastructures and relics according to planning.

- To build tourist and recreation zones, and put to use sea service works.

2. From 2011 till 2020:

To basically complete the construction of works according to development plannings.

Article 3.

State administrative management model, mechanisms and policies for Con Dao district

1. State administrative management:

The selection of a management model for Con Dao district must be directed towards a management model applicable to a modern urban center in two stages: For the immediate future, an administrative management model applicable to districts composed of population groups will be applied; then, when conditions permit and where there are demands, it will be replaced with a state administrative management model applicable to urban centers to turn the island into a big urban center with many wards.

2. Mechanisms and policies:

- Con Dao district shall be entitled to current preferential mechanisms and policies in Vietnam.

- To study a number of specific mechanisms and policies applicable to Con Dao district.

- Regarding investment capital: The Government shall give priority to investment from state budget capital, ODA capital and credit capital, especially in the initial stage. To take measures to attract foreign direct investment capital and encourage other economic sectors to invest in developing Con Dao district.

Article 4.

Organization of implementation

1. To assign the People's Committee of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province to assume the prime responsibility for organizing the implementation of the scheme and coordinate with concerned ministries and agencies in completing in 2006 and 2007 the formulation, review, adjustment, amendment and submission of the following major plannings to competent authorities for approval:

- A master plan on socio-economic development of Con Dao district, Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, till 2020.

- A master plan on construction and architectural spatial organization of Con Dao district; a detailed planning on Co Ong area, the central area and Ben Dam area.

- A planning on tourism development of Con Dao district.

- To coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in reviewing the planning on Con Dao national park, and propose solutions to protection and promotion of its value.

- Other important economic-branch plannings of Con Dao district.

To permit the People's Committee of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province to invite foreign consultants or consultancy organizations to study and formulate a planning on construction and architecture of Con Dao district.

2. To assign the Ministry of Culture and Information to assume the prime responsibility for formulating a master plan on conservation, embellishment and promotion of the value of Con Dao historical relics, embracing Hang Duong cemetery and other cemeteries; to allow it to invite foreign consultants or consultancy organizations to participate in drawing up the plan.

The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs shall transfer the tasks of managing Hang Duong cemetery and other cemeteries to the Ministry of Culture and Information.

3. To assign the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance to coordinate with the People's Committee of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province in expeditiously balancing and allocating capital for implementation of the scheme.

Article 5.

This Decision takes effect 15 days after its publication in CONG BAO.

Article 6.

The president of the People's Committee of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, and heads of Government-attached agencies shall have to implement this Decision.