Finding solutions to overcome difficulties for Cau Treo International Border Gate Economic Zone

To solve difficulties and problems, and create new development steps for Cau Treo International Border Gate Economic Zone (Ha Tinh), it is necessary to have synchronous resources, mechanisms, policies and the participation of relevant agencies.

Many difficulties and obstacles

Expected to be the socio-economic and defense center of the Northwest of the province, but recently, for various reasons, Cau Treo International Border Gate Economic Zone (EZ) is facing many difficulties, especially in attracting investment and developing trade and services.

Dai Kim Industrial Park in Cau Treo International Border Gate Economic Zone currently has very few operating businesses.

The Dai Kim Industrial Park (IP) infrastructure construction investment project (belonging to Cau Treo International Border Gate Economic Zone) was implemented since 2007 in Son Kim 1 commune with an area of ​​over 33 hectares. This is expected to be the destination of many processing and manufacturing enterprises, but up to now, this IP has been almost empty of enterprises.

Mr. Hoang Van Thu - Chairman of the People's Committee of Son Kim 1 Commune said: "When it was first established, the Industrial Park had a number of businesses investing in fields such as garment, assembly, wood processing, etc. However, up to now, all businesses have stopped or temporarily stopped operations. The goal of creating long-term jobs and stabilizing the lives of local workers has not been achieved as initially expected."

Enterprises in Dai Kim Industrial Park stopped or temporarily stopped operations.

Up to now, the Cau Treo International Border Gate Economic Zone has attracted 28 investment projects using land (still in effect), including: 27 domestic investment projects with a total registered investment capital of VND 2,073,389 billion and 1 foreign investment project with a registered investment capital of VND 114.7 billion. However, only 17 projects have been completed and put into production and business, but some have stopped operating due to lack of efficiency. Some other projects have not been completed or implemented.

At Cau Treo International Border Gate, despite implementing many solutions in administrative reform, facilitating people and vehicles to circulate, import and export turnover at the border gate still tends to decrease sharply. According to the explanation of the forces on duty at Cau Treo International Border Gate, the reason is that the National Highway 8A system has not yet completed the upgrading and renovation, so traffic on the Lao side still faces many difficulties. In addition, one of the long-standing problems that has not been resolved is that the parking lot of the border gate is too narrow, and there is no cargo inspection area, which greatly affects the process of implementing tasks for people and vehicles when circulating and entering and exiting the country.

Cau Treo international border gate has a narrow parking lot, affecting trade and immigration.

Assessing the current situation of Cau Treo International Border Gate Economic Zone, Mr. Pham Tran De - Deputy Head of the Provincial Economic Zone Management Board said: "In recent times, the mechanisms and policies for Cau Treo International Border Gate Economic Zone have changed. In particular, the economic zone is no longer a duty-free zone, so it must apply common policies as for normal economic zones, which greatly affects the attraction of investment and import and export of goods. Along with that, the trade situation between us and Laos will become more limited if the expressway connecting Vientiane Capital (Laos) with Hanoi Capital (Vietnam) through Pac Xan, Bolikhamxay Province (Laos), passing through Thanh Thuy Border Gate (Nghe An) is implemented, the trade of goods at Cau Treo International Border Gate will become more difficult and decline further".

In addition, some other difficulties and limitations in planning, management and implementation; investment capital from the state budget; some investment projects are slow to put land into use, have not fully used the assigned area... have also significantly affected the development of the Economic Zone over the past time.

Solutions for developing multi-sector, multi-sector border gate economic zones

To overcome difficulties in the economic zone and create new steps of development, recently, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee has concluded that Cau Treo International Border Gate Economic Zone will be developed in the direction of a comprehensive, multi-sector, multi-sector economic zone; focusing on border trade, logistics services and being a center of advanced and high-tech agriculture and forestry, linking production with processing; promoting the advantages and values ​​of agricultural and forestry ecological landscapes, combining sustainable eco-tourism development; being the economic - social, defense - security center in the Northwest of the province, with a synchronous infrastructure system, meeting development requirements.

When the upgrade of National Highway 8A is completed, it will facilitate the flow of goods through Cau Treo International Border Gate.

Based on the conclusions of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, the Provincial People's Committee has recently issued a document requesting the Provincial Economic Zone Management Board and relevant departments, branches and localities to synchronously deploy many solutions. In particular, special attention is paid to reviewing and studying mechanisms and policies, promoting advantages, exploiting the potential of border economic zones and supporting and creating conditions for enterprises to invest and develop; prioritizing resources to invest in upgrading infrastructure of Cau Treo International Border Economic Zone in general and Cau Treo International Border Economic Zone in particular; researching, developing and proactively implementing investment promotion programs in economic zones and industrial parks; further strengthening cooperative relations with Lao provinces, especially in the fields of politics, economics, trade...; proactively reviewing and adjusting internal rules and regulations of border gates to meet regulations and practical requirements.

Implementing the direction of the Provincial People's Committee, relevant departments, branches and localities, based on their assigned functions and tasks, have quickly started implementing the contents. Accordingly, the work of adjusting the master plan for the construction of Cau Treo International Border Gate Economic Zone until 2045 has been completed by the Provincial Economic Zone Management Board in coordination with departments, branches and localities and submitted to the Ministry of Construction for appraisal and submission to the Prime Minister for approval. Regarding the adjustment of the detailed plan to expand the Cau Treo International Border Gate area, the consulting unit has received opinions from provincial leaders, relevant departments, branches and localities to complete the planning project.

According to Mr. Nguyen Quoc Ha - Director of the Department of Construction: "Currently, the Department is coordinating with the Provincial Economic Zone Management Board to complete and carry out appraisal steps to advise the Provincial People's Committee to approve the detailed planning adjustment project to expand the Cau Treo International Border Gate area, scale 1/500. At the same time, working with the Ministry of Construction and central agencies to speed up the appraisal process of the General Planning Project for the construction of the Cau Treo International Border Gate Economic Zone until 2045, thereby, serving as a basis for approving the Detailed Planning Project to expand the Cau Treo International Border Gate area in accordance with regulations".

Continue to strengthen coordination in performing tasks between forces at Cau Treo International Border Gate.

In addition, the province is currently developing a medium-term public investment plan for the period 2026 - 2030. The Provincial Economic Zone Management Board and the Department of Planning and Investment are researching and proposing public investment projects to develop the infrastructure of the Cau Treo International Border Gate Economic Zone, especially expanding the area, renovating and repairing infrastructure works at the border gate area. In addition, the Provincial People's Committee is directing departments and branches to research, consult and develop mechanisms and policies on the development of economic zones in general and the Cau Treo International Border Gate Economic Zone in particular to submit to the Provincial People's Council for consideration as soon as possible.

In international cooperation, in recent times, the Ha Tinh Department of Foreign Affairs has also actively advised on implementing many activities to strengthen cooperative relations with Lao provinces, especially in the fields of politics, economics and trade. The Department of Foreign Affairs has connected departments and localities of both sides to regularly share experiences in economic management and development. In particular, the Provincial People's Committee advised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to include the content of expanding the Lao side of the road in the minutes of annual meetings. At the same time, in coordination with the Central interdisciplinary survey teams, local departments and branches in the province organized field surveys, meetings to unify the contents and plans to remove difficulties related to the expansion of the Lao side of the border gate.

Along with mechanisms, policies and planning, the forces performing tasks at Cau Treo International Border Gate area are also making efforts to improve operational efficiency so that people, vehicles and goods can circulate smoothly.

Mr. Dao Nghia Dong - Deputy Head of the Cau Treo International Border Gate Customs Branch said: "To overcome current difficulties, the customs force continues to improve the effectiveness of coordination with other forces in performing tasks; arrange a team of qualified, dedicated and responsible officers to perform their duties; focus on administrative reform to create an open environment for economic and import-export activities through the border gate".

It is expected that in the coming time, when the above solutions are deployed synchronously, promptly and put into practice, they will create new changes and breakthroughs for the development of Cau Treo International Border Gate Economic Zone in accordance with the direction of the Provincial Party Standing Committee.

Source: https://songoaivu.hatinh.gov.vn/tim-giai-phap-go-kho-cho-khu-kinh-te-cua-khau-quoc-te-cau-treo-1726188306.html