Re-establishing authority for Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park.

The Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park is currently granted the authority to issue environmental permits, approve construction projects, and handle other procedures that are being proposed for decentralization.

This information was provided by Ms. Huynh Thi Ngoc Dao, Chief of the Office of the Management Board of Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park (SHTP), at a meeting with businesses held on the morning of April 16th.

According to Ms. Dao, when implementing Resolution 98 on the special mechanism for the development of Ho Chi Minh City, the Saigon Hi-Tech Park (SHTP) was re-established to directly handle licensing, appraisal, and approval of environmental impact reports. This agency was also assigned to appraise and approve construction conditions according to the 1/500 planning of investment projects.

According to Ms. Dao, these authorities have re-established a one-stop shop mechanism for administrative procedures during the investment and construction process of the project. Previously, SHTP directly handled these matters, but due to changes in specialized laws, these authorities were transferred to specialized agencies.

Specifically, land procedures fall under the authority of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, while planning procedures fall under the authority of the Department of Planning and Architecture... This leads to prolonged processing times for investment procedures, affecting the progress of investment projects in the Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park.

Previously, businesses only needed about 6 months for procedures, but after transferring to inter-agency bodies, it takes them 2 years to complete and implement projects. SHTP leaders assessed that the nature of high-tech industries is to develop products and bring them to market quickly. Long administrative procedures will cause technology to lose its breakthrough potential and reduce investment efficiency.

With the implementation of the new mechanism, by the end of March, the Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park had processed 18 environmental permit applications and 6 applications for construction condition assessment for projects.

Main gate of Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park in Thu Duc City, October 2022. Photo: Quynh Tran — Main gate of Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park in Thu Duc City, October 2022. Photo: *Quynh Tran*

A representative from SHTP stated that the unit is proposing to delegate to the Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park Management Board the authority to carry out procedures for inspecting and penalizing units showing signs of violating environmental laws; assessing and resolving incidents related to construction projects within SHTP...

This unit also proposed transferring the functions of establishing councils and organizing the evaluation of scientific and technological foundations for investment projects from the Department of Science and Technology to SHTP.

According to Nguyen Anh Thi, Head of the Management Board of Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park (SHTP), Resolution 98 and Decree 10 on the newly issued High-Tech Park establish an institutional framework for SHTP to implement a one-stop service mechanism. This is a crucial administrative procedure that allows projects to be implemented quickly in SHTP, especially in key sectors such as semiconductors, aerospace, and biotechnology. He pledged to work alongside businesses to overcome procedural difficulties so that projects can begin operations soon.

Speaking to the press, Ms. Ho Thi Thu Uyen, Head of the Business Association of the Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park, assessed that resolving administrative procedures on-site is considered a key factor in state management, shaping the efficiency and competitiveness of high-tech parks in attracting investment. "Businesses will have high expectations for this change in administrative procedures," Ms. Uyen said.

Ha An

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