Tay Ninh Sets Sights on IZ Development

Trang Bang IZ (VEN) - The southern province of Tay Ninh is intensifying efforts to upgrade its industrial zone (IZ) infrastructure, expand and build more IZs to meet investors' abundant requirements in a swift and efficient manner.   Tay Ninh is currently home to four industrial zones covering 3,343.4ha in total area, including the Trang Bang IZ over 190.76ha, the Linh Trung III Industrial Zone and Export Processing Zone over 202.67ha, the Bourbon An Hoa IZ over 1,020ha and the Phuoc Dong IZ over 2,190ha, according to a report released by Tay Ninh Industrial Zones Authority. Since initial efforts were made for infrastructure development in 2001, the Trang Bang IZ has basically completed its infrastructure system including roads, power, water plumbing and sewer, and communications systems. Similarly, 12.4ha of the IZ area were set aside for growing green trees (6.5 percent of the projection), two water plants with a daily capacity of 4,600cu.m and a power station for supply to the Trang Bang IZ and Linh Trung III Industrial Zone and Export Processing Zone were built and pressed into operation. Basic infrastructure facilities in Linh Trung III Zone were completed and brought online. As for the fresh Bourbon An Hoa IZ, more than 950ha out of 1,020ha total land area were returned to the project developer after compensation amounting to VND512 billion was made. Site clearance was completed over 250ha. Until present, a water plant with a daily capacity of 3,500cu.m in the first phase was completed and some other infrastructure facilities have been made available such as central roads, power, water plumbing and communications systems. The project on building Bourbon An Hoa Port over 31ha on Vam Co Dong River (first phase) has been licensed. Compensation and infrastructure construction (first phase) are now underway at Phuoc Dong IZ. Compensation was made over 1,166.6ha out of 1,212.2ha with 1,616 out of 1,661 households receiving the indemnity. In the first half of 2010, Tay Ninh Industrial Zones Authority had licensed five investment projects (three foreign direct investment projects) with a total registered capital of US$5.2 million and VND72 billion. The province's total investment capital in the first half of the year came to US$9.97 million if supplemental capital of existing projects was included, 137.5 percent more year on year in capital and 66.7 percent more in project. Apart from luring investment, Tay Ninh IZ authorities focus on quickening the pace of compensation and upgrading IZ infrastructure. To push up IZ development to further attract domestic and foreign investors in May 2010 the Prime Minister enacted Document 758/TTg-KTN to add five new IZs covering a total area of 1,150ha among those being prioritized for establishment up to 2010. These include the Hiep Thanh IZ over 250ha, the Bau Hai Nam IZ over 200ha, the Gia Binh IZ over 200ha, the Cha La IZ over 200ha and the Thanh Dien IZ over 300ha. However, the Tay Ninh Industrial Zones Authority blamed on the heterogeneous technical infrastructure development in the province's IZs as well as in areas outside these IZs. Particularly, the road linking Bourbon An Hoa IZ to National Highway 22 and road 782 crossing Phuoc Dong IZ are in poor conditions and yet to be either upgraded or expanded, badly affecting local investment environment. Besides, the province faces a dearth of qualified workers particularly those working in mechanical engineering, electronic and hi-tech areas. These factors made the province less attractive in the eye of investors coming to the province to explore business opportunities. To bring utmost comfort to investors, Tay Ninh Industrial Zones Authority has supported the developers of Phuoc Dong-Boi Loi IZ and Bourbon An Hoa IZ infrastructure to quicken their projects' progress; kept close eyes on the IZ environment; upheld IZ businesses to disentangle; promoted business dialogues; improved laborers' awareness about the law to avoid illegal strikes and better state management of IZs. The application of the one-stop shop mechanism in settling administrative procedures helps the province shorten its licensing process, save investors' time and cost, and turn the province into a lucrative destination to domestic and foreign investors./.