Deputy Minister Do Thanh Trung chaired the meeting of the Appraisal Council to adjust the Research Report on the Sa Pa Airport Construction Investment Project.

(MPI) – On the afternoon of August 30, 2024, under the chairmanship of Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Do Thanh Trung, Vice Chairman of the Appraisal Council, the Council members met and appraised the Adjusted Report on the pre-feasibility study report of the investment project to build Sa Pa Airport, Lao Cai province under the public-private partnership (PPP) method.

Attending the meeting were members of the Appraisal Council representing relevant ministries and branches under Decision 400/QD-TTg dated May 10, 2024 on the establishment of the Appraisal Council to adjust the Research Report on the Sa Pa Airport Construction Investment Project; representatives of relevant departments and branches of Lao Cai province and representatives of a number of relevant units under the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

The investment project to build Sa Pa airport in Lao Cai province was approved by the Prime Minister for investment under PPP in Decision No. 1773/QD-TTg dated October 21, 2021. The investment in construction of the project aims to meet the increasing demand for air transport, contributing to promoting socio -economic development; at the same time, ensuring high mobility in defense as well as in rescue work; ensuring national defense and security of the Northwest region in general and Lao Cai province in particular; in line with the planning and orientation of transport development.

Overview of the Meeting. Photo: MPI

Speaking at the meeting, Vice Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Trong Hai thanked the Ministry of Planning and Investment and related ministries and branches for their attention and support in the socio-economic development of the province and hoped to continue to receive their attention and support in the future. At the same time, he said that Lao Cai province has a special geographical location with a diverse transportation network, is located between the Northwest and Northeast regions, has a strategic position in the "Belt and Road" initiative and the economic corridor of Kunming - Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh; has great potential for tourism development, especially the unique features of the province's ethnic minorities; has diverse natural conditions, favorable climate for agricultural development; has strengths in developing processing industry associated with mining activities.

To contribute to the implementation of the development goals of Lao Cai province in Resolution No. 11-NQ/TW dated February 10, 2022 of the Politburo on the direction of socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security in the midland and mountainous regions of the North to 2030, with a vision to 2045; Decision No. 316/QD-TTg dated March 29, 2023 of the Prime Minister on approving the planning of Lao Cai province for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2030, which has set out development tasks for Lao Cai province, Lao Cai province hopes that ministries and branches will continue to pay attention and support in the process of implementing procedures, soon starting the Sa Pa Airport project, contributing to helping the province realize the set goals, Mr. Nguyen Trong Hai emphasized.

Mr. Trinh Duc Trong, Deputy Director of the Department of Infrastructure and Urban Development, Ministry of Planning and Investment, speaking. Photo: MPI

Giving opinions at the meeting, the Council members assessed that the province's submitted dossier was relatively complete, the basic dossier components were in accordance with regulations; at the same time, they focused on exchanging and discussing the contents stipulated in the PPP Law; the suitability with the flight management categories; the reasons for not attracting and attracting investors; the criteria for increasing competitiveness and investment attractiveness; the ability to attract investors in case of increasing the state capital participation in the project; analyzing the relationship of increasing the state capital ratio, the necessary conditions in attracting investment capital; capital recovery time; price framework, project fees; regulations in accordance with the new Land Law such as land recovery exemption and reduction; loan interest rate data; input parameters; assessment of the forecast number of passengers arriving and departing; clarifying the legal basis for project revenue; reviewing and evaluating the project investment capital, the capital from the local budget and the central budget to balance the project to ensure the capital structure; credit sources;…

Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Do Thanh Trung speaks. Photo: MPI

Concluding the meeting, Deputy Minister Do Thanh Trung highly appreciated the frank, responsible and constructive comments of the Council members; emphasized and clarified the issues raised related to the legal basis for adjusting the investment policy and conditions for adjusting the project investment policy; the proposed contents for adjusting the investment policy; the effectiveness of the project investment; financial indicators; project investment capital sources, including state budget sources and credit capital sources; total project investment; time and progress of project implementation; requirements for ensuring national defense and security; and the form of selecting investors.

Based on the opinions at the meeting, the Deputy Minister assigned the Department of Infrastructure and Urban Development, Ministry of Planning and Investment to synthesize the opinions of the members of the Appraisal Council, draft a conclusion notice to send to Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee to continue studying, receiving, and clarifying the opinions raised. At the same time, he requested Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee to proactively study and review according to regulations to complete the pre-feasibility study report according to the opinions at the meeting, especially related to new legal regulations; regulations related to contractor selection; ensuring national defense and security, etc.

Based on the explanatory report and the completed feasibility study report, the Ministry of Planning and Investment drafts a report on the appraisal results and sends it to the members of the Appraisal Council for comments; sends it to the members of the Council for comments and votes on the appraisal results report of the Council. On that basis, the standing body of the Appraisal Council (Ministry of Planning and Investment) continues to complete the appraisal results report and submit it to the Chairman of the Council for consideration, signing and sending it to the People's Committee of Lao Cai province for completion and submission to the Prime Minister according to regulations./.

Tung Linh

Ministry of Planning and Investment

Source: https://www.mpi.gov.vn/portal/Pages/2024-8-30/Minister-Do-Thanh-Trung-chair-meeting-Hoi-dong-thal785em.aspx