The Nghi Son Economic Zone in the central province of Thanh Hoa will be expanded to 106,000 ha, ten times larger than its initial planned size, in order to meet business demand and turn the area into a driving force for the socio-economic development of the province and the north-central region.

The new master plan was announced by the Ministry of Construction and provincial authorities in Tinh Gia District on Wednesday. It includes nearly 66,500ha of land and more than 39,500ha of sea area.

The expanded zone will cover the whole area of ​​Tinh Gia District, the communes of Yen My, Cong Binh and Cong Chinh in Nong Cong District, and the communes of Thanh Tan, Thanh Ky and Yen Lach in Nhu Thanh District.

Chairman of Thanh Hoa People’s Committee Nguyen Dinh Xung said the adjustment would make Nghi Son a multi-sector economic zone with a focus on heavy industry and basic industry, along with effective exploitation of the seaport.

“Nghi Son Economic Zone will be a synchronous and modern industrial urban complex containing services and tourism, with the centre being Nghi Son industrial city and Hai Ninh, Yen My and Thanh Tam urban areas, which will be developed into smart, sustainable areas,” said Xung.

The zone is one of eight important economic zones in Viet Nam. It is also an important transport hub, a gateway for exchanging goods and connecting trade with northern Laos, northeastern Thailand and sub-areas of Thanh Hoa by national and international maritime routes through the Nghi Son road system and seaport.

Xung said the province would continue improving its business investment environment and boosting promotion programmes to attract investments in the economic zone and other industrial parks.

The province will push ahead with the construction of essential infrastructure systems for the zone, Xung added.

In 2018, it contributed VND12 trillion (US$516 million) to the State budget.

Deputy Minister of Construction Phan Thi My Linh said the zone would help solve land shortages for supporting industries, the high-tech industry, light industry and processing of agricultural products and seafood. It should also help develop tourism within the economic zone by adding accommodations.

Linh told local authorities to implement the plan in line with the current legal regulations.

The new plan was approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on December 7, 2018. It will expand the zone from 18,000ha to 106,000ha, for operation from now to 2035.

The Nghi Son EZ, established in 2006, is some 200km to the south of the capital city of Ha Noi. It houses the Nghi Son seaport and the Nghi Son Oil Refinery and Petrochemical Complex – the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia. — VNS