HAU GIANG (Biz Hub)— Hong Kong-based Lee&Man Paper Manufacturing has received in-principle approval from the Hau Giang People's Committee to extend the implementation progress of its paper complex in the southern province until the end of next year.

During a recent meeting with the committee, representatives of the company promised to put its long-delayed complex into operation nearly two years later than the deadline agreed.

The committee's deputy vice chairman, Nguyen Thanh Nhon, asked the company to provide reasons for the project's sluggish implementation as well as detailed plans for each phase of work in the future.

This will be used by the committee to make a final decision on a time extension, Nhon said.

In 2011, Lee&Man Viet Nam's director, Cheng Ching Kay, sent a document to the committee, announcing that the complex would go into commercial production in October this year.

The provincial Industrial Zones Authority's report, however, said that as of July 25, the investor had only finished 83 per cent of site clearance while other major works remained under construction.

Lee&Man, one of the world's premier paper manufacturers, obtained an investment licence in 2007 and broke ground for a paper complex in the province. It was hoped the plant would be able to supply the local paper-hungry industry.

The investor earlier said it planned to pour US$1.2 billion into the complex and develop it in three phases. — VNS