The Government Office has just issued a document conveying the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha regarding the proposal to approve the investment policy of the Saigon Gateway International Transit Port project according to the Appraisal Report on the proposal to approve the investment policy of the Saigon Gateway International Transit Port project of the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Accordingly, the Deputy Prime Minister will chair a meeting on the proposal to approve the investment policy of the Saigon Gateway International Transit Port Project.

To ensure the content of this 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 the Appraisal Report and give specific opinions on the contents.

In particular, 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), as well as presiding over and coordinating with the Ministry of Science and Technology to appraise the technology of the project according to the Law on Technology Transfer.

At the same time, there are opinions on 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, Ba Ria - Vung Tau seaport).

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment clearly affirms its views on the environmental impact of the project, as well as 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 is assigned the responsibility to give opinions on the authority and procedures for converting the project's forest use purpose according to the provisions of the Forestry Law, Investment Law and relevant Decrees.

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

The Deputy Prime Minister requested that ministries carefully study legal regulations on investment, environment, land, forestry, etc. regarding the contents of the Prime Minister's approval of investment policies.

In addition, the ministries need to clarify their opinions: After the project is approved in principle for investment, will it be understood that it has been permitted in terms of environment, land, planning, etc. or must the planning, environment, land, etc. be approved before there is a basis for approving the policy?

The ministries sent documents to the Ministry of Planning and Investment on August 15 to synthesize and complete the report to the Deputy Prime Minister before the meeting.

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 legal regulations.

In particular, it is necessary to clearly affirm that the assessment of conformity with the planning has complied with Decree No. 31/2021 and relevant laws; the legal basis for approving the investment policy with an investment period of 22 years, expected to be completed in 2045.

In addition, it is necessary to clearly supplement the investment scale and cargo capacity through the port of each phase, as well as review the project name to ensure consistency with relevant documents. Supplement the content of the assessment of meeting the conditions for market access 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.

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee is assigned the responsibility of closely coordinating with the Ministry of Planning and Investment in the process of completing the report.