DA NANG: The central city of Da Nang has been revving up preparatory works on the establishment of the free trade zone (FTZ) project since it was passed by the National Assembly in late June.

At least 30 decisions on the project have been made by the city’s People’s Council to prepare for the zone which will start construction in 2025.

The city has been seeking appropriate locations for key sites for manufacturing, a logistics centre and trade and services, on an estimated area from 1,000ha to 1,500ha in the FTZ.

“The FTZ project will become active from January 2025 and some key items on the zone must be ready by then,” said Tran Chi Cuong, vice-chairman of the city’s People’s Committee for Administration.

“It’s very urgent. We have only five years to implement the pilot project under the National Assembly’s approval and only six months for the project to start the very first items of construction,” Cuong said.

“The framework of the project will be reviewed by the prime minister for commencing. The city has just months to complete all procedures for calling investors and key infrastructure developers in 2025.”

Le Thi Kim Phuong, director of the city’s Industry and Trade Department, said some key investors had approached the FTZ, but it was waiting for official government approval to make any decision.

She said different sites would be built on an area from 80ha to 200ha in Hoa Lien, Hoa Nhon and Hoa Ninh communes of Hoa Vang District and there would be calls for strategic investors.

“The city will build up an overall plan and series of works to be completed by the end of 2025. It also needs a master plan on entire solutions for infrastructure, investment reform and preferential policies for all investors,” Phuong said.

She said the city and its international partners would join together in boosting investment promotions for the FTZ as well as offerings for key investors.

Some major locations - a manufacturing zone on 538ha, a 132ha trade and service centre, a logistics area on 536ha - would be reviewed in the feasibility proposals, she added.

Vice-chairman Cuong emphasised that FTZs had been developed in many countries, but it’s the first time for Vietnam, and Da Nang would be a five-year pilot project.

“We have to shape its frame first, as the city will be a trailblazer in developing the first-ever FTZ in Vietnam. The operation of the zone will be linked with the on-going construction of Lien Chieu deep-sea port,” he said.

Lien Chieu Port, which covers an area of 450ha, was designed to handle 50 million tonnes of cargo per year by 2050.

Last year, Da Nang’s administration submitted a plan for a duty-free zone on 151ha at the end of Ba Na Suoi Mo Road - 30km south-west of the centre and near the Ba Na Hills resort, for a trade complex, entertainment sites, duty-free shops, a logistics hub, warehouses, healthcare services, a research and development centre, an international education centre, a medical school and an exhibition centre.

An international finance centre has been included in the 2030-2050 Master Plan and the location will be developed at the current An Don Industrial Zone in the tourism Son Tra District

The beach city will be building on its dream of becoming an international centre for semiconductor and high-tech industries after showing the area to Intel, Marvell Technology Group and Synopsys for long-term investment commitments.

 - ANN