A view of Chu Lai Port in Quang Nam Province. The Chu Lai Open Economic Zone (EZ) is set to be expanded in the coming years to include a new international seaport and industrial park. — VNA/VNS Photo Tran Tinh

DA NANG () Biz Hub— Work started on an international seaport and industrial park in the Chu Lai Open Economic Zone (EZ) on Saturday, the same day the zone received a Labour Order from the State.

The new seaport and industrial park will be located on an area of 350ha with investment capital of US$400 million from Tan Hiep Phat Group.

The project is a major addition to the expansion of the Chu Lai Open Economic Zone, which was developed from a white sand area 10 years ago.

The zone houses a total of 90 investment projects with combined registered capital of $3.1 billion, comprising of five industrial parks, a tourism site and an urban precinct with a total area of 25,500ha.

At a ceremony to present the Third Class Labour Order on Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said he highly appreciated the efforts made by the Chu Lai Zone's management board after 10 years of construction and operation.

The development has seen rapid expansion of infrastructure, industry and services and the attraction of major investments, he stressed.

Phuc, however, said the zone has not yet exploited its full potential. He pointed out that the EZ has yet to built up appropriate institutions, hi-tech facilities and high quality services that would make it more competitive with other economic zones across the country and abroad.

He also called on provincial leaders and the zone's management board to ensure infrastructure, sustainable planning and quick procedures for future investors.

He said the EZ should focus on human resources training for local workers to meet the labour demands of investors.

The vice chairman of the provincial People's Committee and head of the Chu Lai EZ management board, Huynh Khanh Toan, said the zone's industrial production value topped VND7 trillion ($333 million) during the 2006-10 period, but average annual production had fallen and was at VND1.9 trillion ($90.4 million) last year.

"We have targeted automobile manufacturing as a core industry as well as boosting the development of support industries and the hi-tech, electronics and energy sectors," Toan said.

"We hope to contribute VND6 trillion ($286 million) to the State budget in 2020, creating 160,000 jobs and earning $340 million from exports."

Toan said the zone's Ky Ha and Tam Hiep ports have been upgraded to allow access to 20,000 DWT (deadweight tonnage) ships.

The central province has also cleared 2,000ha to lure investors and develop Chu Lai Airport into an international cargo terminal.

Chu Lai EZ has been included as one of five coastal economic zones across the country to receive support from the State budget during the 2013-15 period, with VND790 billion ($38 million) set aside for the zone for the period.

The Labour Order was presented to the zone on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of central Quang Nam Province. — VNS