Perspective of Saigon Gateway International Transit Port Project.

The Government Office has just issued Official Dispatch No. 5714/VPCP-CN to the Ministers of Planning and Investment, Transport, Natural Resources and Environment, Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Agriculture and Rural Development, Science and Technology; Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee conveyed the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha regarding Appraisal Report No. 5590/BC - BKHDT on the Dossier requesting approval of the investment policy of the Saigon Gateway International Transit Port Project of the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Accordingly, the Deputy Prime Minister said that he will chair a meeting on the proposal to approve the investment policy of the Saigon Gateway International Transit Port Project; the specific meeting time will be announced later.

To ensure the content of the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministries of Transport, Natural Resources and Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Foreign Affairs, and National Defense to base on their assigned functions and tasks, and the responsibilities of the appraisal agency to study and give opinions on the recommendations and assessments of the Ministry of Planning and Investment in Appraisal Report No. 5590/BC-BKHDT and give specific opinions on the contents.

Specifically, the Ministry of Transport has opinions on the suitability of developing the seaport system and related planning for each investment phase of the Project (location, scale, land use area, cargo throughput capacity); presides over and coordinates with the Ministry of Science and Technology to appraise the technology of the Project according to the Law on Technology Transfer; contents related to traffic connection serving port exploitation and the impact of the Project on seaports in the region (Cai Mep Ha port, Cai Mep - Thi Vai port, Ba Ria - Vung Tau seaport);

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment clearly affirms its views on the environmental impact of the Project; the suitability of the Project's land use needs with land use planning and land use plans according to land law regulations.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has opinions on the authority and procedures for converting the purpose of forest use of the Project according to the provisions of the Forestry Law, Investment Law and relevant Decrees.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has comments on regulations on the management of world biosphere reserves and related contents on the impact and influence of the Project on the Can Gio biosphere reserve.

The Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministries to carefully study the legal regulations on investment, environment, land, forestry, etc. regarding the contents of the Prime Minister's approval of the investment policy, including what content? Please clarify your opinion: after the investment policy is approved, is it understood that the environment, land, planning, etc. have been approved or must the planning, environment, land, etc. be approved before there is a basis for approving the policy?

“Ministries send documents to the Ministry of Planning and Investment on August 15, 2024 to synthesize and complete the report to the Deputy Prime Minister before the meeting,” Official Dispatch No. 5714 stated.

Based on the opinions of ministries and agencies, the Deputy Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment to synthesize and carefully review the appraisal contents in accordance with the provisions of law. It is necessary to clearly affirm that the content of the assessment of conformity with the planning has complied with Clause 7, Article 31 of Decree No. 31/2021/ND-CP dated March 26, 2024 and relevant laws; the legal basis for approving the investment policy with an investment period of 22 years, expected to be completed in 2045; clearly supplement the investment scale and cargo capacity through the port of each phase; review the project name to ensure consistency with relevant documents; supplement the content of the assessment of meeting market access conditions for foreign investors (if any).

The proposal must clearly state whether the Project has fully ensured the conditions and legal basis for the Prime Minister to approve the Project investment policy or not.

It is known that the most prominent highlight in Appraisal Report No. 5590 is that the Ministry of Planning and Investment affirmed that there is sufficient political and legal basis to consider deciding on investment policy for the Project.

Resolution No. 98/2023/QH15 has included the Project in the group of projects implementing the selection of strategic investors as a basis for promoting the economy and driving development for Ho Chi Minh City in particular and the Southeast region in general.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment emphasized that the Saigon Gateway International Transit Port Project, when successfully implemented, will supplement the potential of the existing seaport system; support and best exploit the potential of seaport cluster No. 4 to become an international transit center; affirm the position and national positioning of Vietnam on the international maritime map as a major transport and logistics transit center of the region and the world.

“The project also helps Vietnam become an important link in the global supply chain, enhance its foreign position, enhance national competitiveness and has important nature and significance in terms of national defense, security and marine economy,” the Ministry of Planning and Investment assessed.

To ensure the success and improve the efficiency of the Project, in addition to investing in technical infrastructure systems and synchronous traffic connection systems, selecting a strategic investor with sufficient experience, capacity, and technology to operate and exploit the port, international logistics network, and international transit goods sources is a decisive factor.

Because the Saigon Gateway International Transit Port Project is located in the buffer zone of the Can Gio Biosphere Reserve with a system of regenerated mangrove forests recognized by UNESCO, environmental issues and technology used in port construction and operation are important factors to minimize negative impacts on the Biosphere Reserve area.

Therefore, the agency appraising the Dossier requesting approval of the investment policy for the Saigon Gateway International Transit Port Project requested the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to clearly express its views on the project's environment. The Ministry of Transport (MOT) - the agency assigned by the Prime Minister to appraise the Project on the study and construction of the Can Gio International Transit Port in Ho Chi Minh City - has opinions on issues related to technology and traffic connection to ensure the effectiveness of the project when it is implemented; and coordinate the cargo sources of the ports in the group of seaports No. 4.

“After receiving opinions from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Transport on the above contents, the Ministry of Planning and Investment recommends that the Prime Minister consider approving the conditional investment policy for the Project,” Appraisal Report No. 5590 stated.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/chi-dao-moi-cua-lanh-dao-chinh-phu-ve-cang-trung-chuyen-quoc-te-cua-ngo-sai-gon-d222258.html