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Financial lowdown for hi-tech parks
Leaders of the Hoa Lac and HCM City high-technology industrial parks will have to submit proposals on policies and capital requirements to the Government by April after land clearance was totally suspended in 2009.
The request, issued by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan during an online conference with the leaders of the two industrial parks yesterday, comes after capital of VND170 billion (US$8.9 million) for land clearance and resettlement failed to be disbursed before the deadline.
By the beginning of 2009, only 834ha out of 1,586ha of land had been cleared in preparation for the parks' construction.
HCM City Hi-tech Park is also behind on infrastructure development due to a lack of capital.
Capital contributions of VND3.7 trillion ($195 million) have been received from the city and VND830 billion ($43 million) from the Government, which combined have fallen short of the required investment.
To add to complications, park operators complained that administrative processes and laws failed to meet required standards. "Policies are not consistent and administrative procedures are not suitable for the operation of transnational companies involved in hi-technology production, especially with regards to tax, customs and banking," said Le Thai Hy from the management board of the park.
Leaders of the two parks added that the Law on Hi-technology had failed to achieve a breakthrough in the development of advanced industry and that a lack of skilled human resources persisted as a major problem.
Nhan said he was in favour of developing highly-skilled human resources, adding that the Ministry of Education and Training would consider training requirements from the hi-tech parks.
Hoa Lac Park has also requested the central Government to increase its relatively small capital contributions for the projects and prioritise land clearance, resettlement and basic infrastructure projects.
Meanwhile, HCM City Hi-tech Park said the Government should coordinate relevant ministries and sectors to achieve unanimity in policies and procedures before issuing legal documents regulating the operation of the parks.
The National Programme on Hi-tech Development should also be accelerated, they added.
The management board of the park said the Government should also issue a special stimulus package to attract domestic enterprises to invest in hi-technology production by creating favourable conditions and incentives.
A "legal corridor" that promoted domestic investment is needed, according to deputy chairman of HCM City People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Tai, in order "to reduce the country's reliance on foreign direct investment."
He is due to chair a meeting in March or April to mediate the various interests involved in the development of the parks and resolve remaining issues.
Nhan asked the management boards of the two parks to submit detailed reports on capital requirements to the Government by the end of April.
The Government's Office will hold a meeting on land clearance for Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park and aims on finishing construction and related activities by 2012.
vietnamnews
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