Ho Chi Minh City is planning 4 free trade zones.

One city, 4 approved FTZs

On the afternoon of August 19, the National Assembly Delegation of Ho Chi Minh City held a session to explain the implementation of Resolution 98 on piloting special mechanisms and policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City; disbursing public investment capital and establishing a free trade zone (FTZ). Comrade Nguyen Van Loi, member of the Party Central Committee, Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Ho Chi Minh City chaired the session.

Regarding the establishment of FTZs, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Finance Nguyen Cong Vinh said that the Prime Minister has approved the planning of 4 FTZs in Ho Chi Minh City, including FTZs associated with seaports in Cai Mep Ha area (formerly Ba Ria - Vung Tau province), FTZs in Bau Bang, FTZs in An Binh ward (formerly Binh Duong province), and FTZs in Can Gio (formerly Ho Chi Minh City).

In particular, Cai Mep Ha FTZ has a scale of more than 3,700 hectares, divided into 3 functional zones with 8 adjacent sub-zones. Currently, legal regulations are not yet complete, and there are no specific policies for FTZ. In addition, the economic scale and administrative boundaries of Ho Chi Minh City have changed due to the implementation of the policy of arranging and merging provinces. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct surveys, investigations, and re-evaluate the current status of the development of the logistics service industry and regional supply chains.

According to the Department of Finance, the implementation of An Binh FTZ and Bau Bang FTZ is currently not feasible. Therefore, on April 1, 2025, the People's Committee of Binh Duong province (formerly) assigned Becamex IDC Corporation to organize research and survey to develop free trade digital economic zone projects in Tan Uyen ward with a scale of 500 hectares (adjacent to the expanded Nam Tan Uyen Industrial Park; on Ring Road 4). However, the research location of Tan Uyen ward FTZ was not included in the Binh Duong Provincial Planning (formerly).

“FTZ must be a place to enjoy preferential policies even more prominent than Resolution 98. New approaches need more contributions,” said Mr. Nguyen Cong Vinh.

At the meeting, delegates also contributed many opinions on the construction of FTZs. National Assembly member Duong Ngoc Hai raised the issue of how the 4 FTZs planned before will be implemented now, should we focus on implementing one area, then learn from the experience and implement it in other areas?

A representative of the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City said that after 3 years of careful preparation and research, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province (formerly) submitted the Cai Mep Ha FTZ project to the Prime Minister. According to him, when merging 3 provinces and cities, the question is whether or not to expand the scope of research?

“In fact, in Vietnam, there is currently no FTZ in operation, it is still only a policy and research. Even in China, they are still only piloting 21 FTZs, associated with favorable conditions of seaports and airports for trading goods, exporting, and connecting logistics. We have merged 3 provinces and cities, so should we study expansion to have a common consensus?”, a representative of the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City raised the issue.

A representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade said that the business community and public opinion are currently very interested in the construction of FTZ. He expressed his opinion that Ho Chi Minh City can pilot the implementation of Cai Mep Ha FTZ first, then expand it, because this FTZ has been fully prepared and the project has been submitted to the Prime Minister. Currently, the Ministry of Finance is consulting with ministries and branches. If Ho Chi Minh City can implement it soon, it will soon seize the opportunity.

Speaking at the meeting, comrade Nguyen Van Loi emphasized that after the merger, Ho Chi Minh City has new development space with higher development requirements. Agencies need to absorb opinions and proposals suitable to the new situation.

Regarding the construction of FTZ, he said that Cai Mep Ha FTZ was carefully studied but was based on previous conditions, while currently the development space of Ho Chi Minh City is larger and Cai Mep Ha is also a part of Ho Chi Minh City. "It is necessary to study and propose for the common good. I suggest that in the upcoming working session at the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, this issue needs to be clarified", Mr. Nguyen Van Loi emphasized.

New realities require an “enhanced Resolution 98”

Regarding Resolution 98, comrade Nguyen Van Loi said that there are opinions that Resolution 98 should be upgraded to ensure the uniqueness and superiority of Ho Chi Minh City, this way will take less time. However, there are also many opinions that there should be appropriate laws for a megacity like Ho Chi Minh City.

“From the reality of the city after the merger, it requires an “enhanced Resolution 98”, ensuring specificity and superiority, for the development of the common good, it must overcome the “barriers” of current regulations, demonstrating the creativity of the city”, comrade Nguyen Van Loi emphasized.

According to him, Resolution 98 cannot only solve problems of a practical nature, but must be an institutional space that links development factors together. To build an “advanced Resolution 98”, it is possible to hire consultants, listen to more opinions from scientists, and elevate practical issues to an institutional level, with a general and highly predictive nature.

This new policy mechanism must mobilize resources for the development of Ho Chi Minh City, in which social capital from enterprises, small traders, small traders... must be released and invested in development. Upgrading Resolution 98 to resolve difficulties for Ho Chi Minh City is caused by regulations that are not constructive and do not really create conditions. If this can be done, the target of double-digit economic growth for the city will not be too much.

Source: https://htv.com.vn/tphcm-duoc-quy-hoach-4-khu-thuong-mai-tu-do-22225082012550507.htm