Piloting the construction of free trade zones and the construction of Dung Quat Energy Center

Photo caption — Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs a meeting of the Government Standing Committee on the development of the project for a free trade zone and a national oil refinery and energy center in Dung Quat. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA

Also attending the meeting were Deputy Prime Ministers , leaders of ministries, branches and government agencies.

Building free trade zones in Da Nang, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City

At the meeting on the project to establish a Free Trade Zone, delegates focused on discussing the political, legal and practical bases; goals, development orientations, principles, criteria for establishment, models, tasks, solutions, legal framework, mechanisms, priority and specific policies for the Free Trade Zone.

Delegates stated that the 10-year socio-economic development strategy 2021-2030, the resolutions and conclusions of the Politburo, the resolutions of the National Assembly on local development and development pillars have set out tasks and solutions: Focus on building breakthrough, outstanding, and competitive mechanisms and policies to pilot the construction of free trade zones.

Currently, there are more than 7,000 special economic zones and free trade zones in operation in the world; with increasing importance in the modern economic development strategies of developing and emerging countries. The current free trade zone model has also been expanded into multifunctional zones of industry, urban, service, finance, high technology, innovation, attracting maximum resources for development.

In Vietnam, the general legal system does not have specific regulations on the mechanisms, policies, management and operation of free trade zones. Recently, the National Assembly has issued resolutions on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Da Nang City and Hai Phong City, including the content of free trade zones.

Therefore, the construction of a free trade zone project is urgent and important and needs to be implemented immediately to provide a political basis, moving towards institutionalizing it into a common legal basis for free trade zones; thereby turning free trade zones into new development drivers, pilot areas for innovation in mechanisms, policies, economic institutions, and Vietnam's business environment according to international standards.

According to the Project developed by the Ministry of Finance, it is expected that in 2026, free trade zones will be established in Da Nang, Hai Phong, and Ho Chi Minh City; by 2030, the whole country will have about 6-8 free trade zones and similar models in localities with favorable conditions; by 2045, the whole country will have 8-10 free trade zones and similar models that meet international standards, compete with countries in the region, and contribute 15-20% of GDP.

After exchanging and discussing issues of mutual concern, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh concluded and agreed on the policy of piloting the Free Trade Zone, requesting the presiding agency to continue to complete the project and submit it to competent authorities for consideration and decision, with the requirement of ensuring feasibility and effectiveness, contributing to socio-economic development, meeting immediate and long-term goals, especially the two 100-year strategic goals.

In particular, the Prime Minister pointed out that it is necessary to clarify the concept of free trade zones, the similarities and differences with international trade centers; the mechanisms and policies for these two subjects have similarities and differences, and it is necessary to flexibly and creatively apply existing regulations.

Paying attention to the selection of pilot locations for free trade zones, the Prime Minister requested agencies to refer to international experience and, based on Vietnam's conditions, to develop specific, suitable, superior, competitive, and feasible mechanisms and policies that do not affect the general investment environment too much; policies that have both general regulations and specific characteristics suitable for different zones and localities.

To pilot the free trade zone, the Prime Minister stated that it is necessary to carry out work to turn policies into plans, develop infrastructure, attract resources, develop and apply high technology, smart management, and train human resources; pay attention to population issues, ensure progressive social security, a bright, clean, civilized, and modern environment; organize a streamlined apparatus, operate effectively and efficiently, strengthen decentralization and delegation of power, increase the initiative of the free trade zone, and strengthen supervision and inspection.

Building Dung Quat into a world-class energy center

Later that same morning, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a meeting of the Government Standing Committee on proposed mechanisms and policies to promote the development of the national oil and gas refining and energy center in Dung Quat Economic Zone (Quang Ngai).

According to reports and discussions at the meeting, Dung Quat Oil Refinery is the first oil refinery in Vietnam, located in Dung Quat Economic Zone. With advantages in strategic location and developed infrastructure system, this economic zone has become an attractive investment destination at home and abroad, planned by the Government to become a multi-sector, multi-sector economic zone, focusing on oil refining, petrochemical, large-scale heavy industry, light industry...

In Resolution No. 26 on socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security in the North Central and Central Coast regions to 2030, with a vision to 2045, the Politburo set the task of "expanding and building a national refining, petrochemical and energy center in Dung Quat Economic Zone".

After listening to reports, opinions and concluding remarks, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that the Dung Quat oil refinery, invested and implemented by Vietnam, is operating effectively and has a plan to expand phase 2, in line with the country's overall development.

Welcoming the Ministry of Industry and Trade, ministries and Quang Ngai province for developing and proposing policies, the Prime Minister basically agreed with these policies and requested ministries, localities and the National Energy Industry Group (Petrovietnam) to review and clarify existing and applicable contents and new contents, specific, breakthrough and stronger policies to propose to competent authorities.

The Prime Minister emphasized that policies under the authority of the National Assembly must be reported to the National Assembly for consideration and decision; policies under the authority of the Government must be proposed to the Government for consideration and decision; policies under the authority of ministries, branches and localities must be proactively implemented.

The Prime Minister requested the development of a general project to ensure comprehensive, feasible and effective implementation, thereby developing a national petrochemical and energy center in Dung Quat Economic Zone, meeting the requirements of rapid and sustainable development, contributing to local socio-economic development, ensuring national energy security and autonomy, developing the petrochemical and energy industry, promoting double-digit growth in the coming years and implementing the country's two 100-year strategic goals.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/thi-diem-xay-dung-cac-khu-thuong-mai-tu-do-va-xay-dung-trung-tam-nang-luong-dung-quat-20251205145318560.htm