'There is no way Saigon Zoo will have to close'

TPO - Speaking to Tien Phong on the morning of December 11, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai said that there is no way that the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden will have to close. Currently, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee is resolving the tax debt problem for this unit.

TPO - Speaking to Tien Phong on the morning of December 11, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai said that there is no way that the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden will have to close. Currently, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee is resolving the tax debt problem for this unit.

In recent days, public opinion has been concerned about the risk of the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden temporarily suspending operations due to the collection of 846 billion VND in tax arrears.

Regarding this issue, exchanging information with Tien Phong on the sidelines of the 20th session of the 10th term Ho Chi Minh City People's Council on the morning of December 11, Mr. Phan Van Mai - Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee said that there is no story that Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden will have to close.

“Something will always happen. When it happens, it will be resolved. We should not worry in advance,” said Mr. Phan Van Mai.

Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai (right) exchanges information on the sidelines of the 20th session of the 10th term Ho Chi Minh City People's Council. Photo: Ngo Tung

Regarding the issue of removing difficulties for Saigon Zoo, the Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee said: Currently, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has assigned the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (TN&MT) to review the Decision on land allocation and land lease for the Zoo. Accordingly, the City People's Committee will lease any land that the Zoo uses for production and business; and the land for public use will be recalculated appropriately, and can be allocated without calculating land rent.

"After adjusting the land lease decision, it will be transferred to the Tax Department so that this Department has a basis for recalculation" - Mr. Phan Van Mai informed.

People relax and play with animals at Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden. Photo: Ngo Tung

Previously in 2014, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee signed a decision to lease land to the Zoo with an area of ​​158,117m2 for public use under an annual payment regime for a period of 50 years. The District 1 Tax Department announced the land rent for the entire area, the total amount per year is 163.3 billion VND.

Recently, the District 1 Tax Department announced that the tax debt of Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden as of October 31 was more than 846 billion VND. Of which, the overdue amount that must be enforced for tax debt collection is more than 787 billion VND.

A representative of Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden said that with an area of ​​158,117m2 rented from the City People's Committee, the unit is currently only using 5,590m2 for business services. The remaining land is used for barns, park landscapes and non-profit public services.

Therefore, the Zoo has requested the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to pay taxes on the land used for business services.

Huu Huy - Ngo Tung

Source: https://tienphong.vn/chu-tich-tphcm-phan-van-mai-khong-co-chuyen-thao-cam-vien-sai-gon-phai-dong-cua-post1699638.tpo