Land clearance for construction of Nhon Phuoc Resettlement is basically over in the first phase of the project.

Interviewer: Can  you please tell our readers about land clearance and compensation policies at Nhon Hoi EZ?

Mr. Ly: In general, demands of investors and infrastructure constructors into Nhon Hoi EZ have been basically satisfied as land clearance there is rather easier than in other economic zones or industrial zones. Because that area is thinly populated and has few buildings, compensation policies are operated in less complicated manner. Moreover, local people at Nhon Hoi are all strongly favour and eager to the establishment of the EZ because they realize their benefits from the EZ very well. That’s positive influence of massy communication campaigns about the EZ.

However, the project still faces some difficulties. Generally, resettlement locations should be ready before the land clearance takes place. In this project, resettlement locations and land clearance are simutaneously carried out. That leads to delay of the project’s progress. Land is not ready for construction while the investors want to immediately receive premises for implementation of their projects after being approved.

After the inauguration of Thi Nai Bridge, Nhon Hoi EZ Management Board issued investment certificates for 7 projects. That means land leases between the local government and the investors are valid at the moment and we have to lease them the land immediately. We need to quickly carry out the land clearance and resettlement programmes on basis of reasonabe compensation for the local affected people. Some of the local people still refuse to move because of their low awareness about the project. We now try to persude them more. Several cases of illegal land occupation and re-occupation have been recorded, complicating the land clearance matter. We are co-operating with local governments to force them obey legal rules.

Interviewer:  What is the progress of Nhon Phuoc resettlement project at the present? How is the life of the local people after the resettlement?

Mr. Ly: In the first phase of the Nhon Phuoc Resettlement Project, the resettlement zone covers an area of 30 square hectares. Ground levelling have been finished at expense of VND 25.359 billion (USD 15.849,375 billion) which accounts for 51% value of this tender. Construction supervising consultants of the project says that construction of technical infrastructure such as drainage and sewage systems, internal roads can’t be operated until 2 months later as the ground subsidence becomes stable. Local people from Nhon Hoi Commune and from part of Nhon Hai Commune, of Nhon Ly Commune will be resettled there.

The infrastructure at the resettlement zone meet criteria of a new modern urban residential area with electricity and water supply systems, roads, public works,etc. We are going to submit policies of helping the resettled people to the People’s Committee of Binh Dinh Province for an approval. They will be allowed to access plots of land next to their houses for their business doing or their production. They will probably re-rent the premises as kiosks out to other people if the premises are near to markets. They will be help to find new jobs. Resettled fishers can feel secure about their businesses because we will build a 1,000-room wharf and dig a small canal near to the resettlement zone.

Interviewer: Can you please tell us about results of investment promotion into Nhon Hoi EZ?

Mr. Ly: We have issued so far investment certificates for 8 projects with total VND 5,792.7 billion (USD 36,204,375) worth of registered investment capital. The projects are “Construction infrastructure for lease at A zone of Nhon Hoi EZ”, “Rainbow Trung Luong Resort”, “Tourist service zone at the north of Thi Nai Bridge”, “Construction infrastructure for lease at B zone of Nhon Hoi EZ”, “Canh Tien convalescence villas”, “Vinh Hoi tourism and hotels”, “Construction of telecommunications infrastructure in the first phase” and “Production complex and workshops for rent”. This year, we will boost up the investment promotion to reach the target of VND 8,000-billion registered investment capital.

Interviewer: Chairman of People’s Committee of Binh Dinh Province has recently ordered to strenghthen the organizational structure the Management Board and to build up a co-operation regulation. How has it been put into operation so far?

Mr. Ly: As the guidance of the Chairman, the Management Board started to move its office to Hoi Son Commune, Nhon Hoi District and assign chiefs and staff of its functional bodies in charge of the land clearance follow-up, technical construction, the project management, anti-reoccupation to work permamently there. 

The Management Board is co-operating with Propaganda Department of Binh Dinh Province Communist Party in writing  communication manuals for Nhon Hoi EZ. We are going to collaborate with mass media to publicize about Nhon Hoi EZ nationally and internationally.

A VND 117-billion (USD 7,312,500) road connecting main road with chief town of Nhon Ly Commune is under construction.

A Land Clearance Council led by Chief of the Management Board is established. The council includes small groups who regularly and directly supervise the land clearance, identifying the illegal wrongdoing. The Management Board finishes co-operation regulation between the investors and local governments. We plan to organize a meeting every 6 months with leaders of 7 communes in the project to evaluate the co-operation, particularly in term of anti-reoccupation and land clearance.

Interviewer: What’s else do you want to tell the readers?

Mr. Ly: Nhon Hoi EZ is facing a big challenge because it is born after other economic zones in the region. It is not availlable now for the investors who consider the Central Vietnam an ideal destination. Many opportunities of attracting the investors to Nhon Hoi EZ have passed by because the infrastructure construction is slow. Many neighbouring economic zones have attracted a lot of investors with big projects.

Each of us is aware very well about his heavy task of uninterrupted self-improvement. Working conditions of the Management Board should be improved more to meet requirement of the the tasks. If empowerment mechanism of is more flexible, the Management Board will solve its procedural tasks quicker and easier. We deadly want other bodies and agencies, local governments to cooperate with us.

Interviewer: Thank you very much!

• Interviewed by Cat Hung
• Translated by TU