Seminar seeks ways to build special economic zones

Domestic and foreign economists exchanged experience in developing special economic zones at a seminar in Ha Long city, the northern province of Quang Ninh on March 20.

Speaking at the event, Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said the Party and State of Vietnam are carrying out economic restructuring and renovating its growth model towards sustainable development.

On the path, three to-be-built special economic zones – Van Don in the northern province of Quang Ninh, Van Phong in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa and Phu Quoc in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang, are seen as driving forces for the development of their regions and the country at large, she said.

Head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Vuong Dinh Hue underlined the need to promptly approve the Law on Special Economic Zones set forth in the 13 th National Assembly’s law-building program.

Andrew Grant from Mc Kinsey & Company of Singapore suggested Quang Ninh province raise a long-term fund for infrastructure and offer incentives in tax, finance and land in order to attract more investors.

Apart from benefits and challenges in building special economic zones, participants at the event also tabled investment attraction, solutions for the synchronous development of infrastructure, and green economy.

Lessons shared at the two-day event are expected to assist the development of special economic zones in Vietnam in general and Quang Ninh province in particular.

Leaders of Quang Ninh, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang and Lam Dong provinces also talked about the topic at a meeting which took place earlier in the day./.