The Van Don Economic Zone Authority has asked the People’s Committee of Van Don District and investors to stop commissioning new projects, adjusting project plans and applying for investment.

The decision comes as the master plan for the future special administrative-economic zone is pending approval. Projects subject to the proposed suspension exclude new projects relating to social security of Van Don District, along with the “Con duong di san” (Heritage Road) project, Sonasea Dragon Bay resort complex, Ngoc Vung Island project and Sun Group project, which are major investments.

The Van Don Economic Zone Authority proposed that other projects only be permitted to continue by the People’s Committee of Quang Ninh Province after a master socio-economic plan and general construction plan of the Van Don special administrative-economic zone were approved.

For projects that have received investment approval or investment registration certificates, the authority will ask the provincial administration to allow them to reschedule their progress, if necessary, so that their implementation can continue after the master plan is adopted.

The north-eastern border province of Quang Ninh is working to build Van Don into a special administrative-economic zone to meet new development requirements.

Van Don is also expected to become a green coastal city and an example of climate change response in the region. Quang Ninh has employed Arcadis & Callison RTKL company, which has branches in the US, the Netherlands and some other countries, to prepare the master plan.

Van Don will be one of the first three special administrative-economic zones in Viet Nam. The others are Bac Van Phong in central Khanh Hoa Province and Phu Quoc in southern Kien Giang Province. — VNS