Quang Ninh (VNA) - The People’s Committee of the north-eastern province of Quang Ninh iscalling for an investment of 15 trillion VND (660.8 million USD) in fiveprojects.

The projects, in the Van Don special administrative-economic zone, includethe Phuong Hoang Island resort with an estimated capital of 5.5 trillion VND onan area of 691ha, Nat Dat Island tourism complex with an investment of 3.15trillion VND, Cai Bau Island Resort, Hotel and Golf Course complex with 3.5trillion VND, Hon Soi Nhu Island Resort complex with 637 billion VND and HonChin tourism complex with 2.5 trillion VND.

According to the provincial Department of Tourism and Economic Zone managementboard, many foreign investors have plans to invest into big projects in theprovince.

In its development plan, Quang Ninh has called for investments into 14big-scale property and resort projects in the 2016-20 period, as well as othersto develop four key tourism centres, including Ha Long, Mong Cai - Tra Co, Van Don-Co To and Uong Bi – Dong Trieu - Quang Yen.

The province has given priority to two projects, which could help promotetourism, including Van Don International Airport and a resort complex with acasino.

The Economic Zone management board said many large projects with an investmentof several billions of dollars from the United States, China and Thailand havebeen implemented in the province.

Quang Ninh submitted a proposal to the government to offer preferences in termsof the business environment at the Van Don special administrative-economiczone.

Accordingly, the zone would have mechanisms to reduce the number of businesslines with conditions and to remove the limits in investment conditions forforeign investors in sectors that the province prioritises for development.

The municipal Department of Planning and Investment said that by the end ofthis year, the province will have 2,240 newly-established firms, with a totalregistered capital of 12.9 trillion VND, posting 32 percent and 9.3 percentincreases in terms of capital, respectively.

In addition, some 500 businesses resumed their operations this year, increasing44 per cent from the previous year. The total number of operating companies inthe province was 14,900, with a total registered capital of 148 trillion VND.

The department said it has taken drastic measures to untie businesses’difficulties to expand their production and trading.

Earlier, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had given the northern provinceof Quang Ninh the go-ahead to develop the Van Don Economic Zone as a specialadministrative-economic unit.

Van Don district comprises over 600 islands and is located around 175km fromHanoi, 80km from Hai Phòng city and 50km from Ha Long city. The districtencompasses the World Heritage site, Ha Long Bay. It covers a total area of2,171sq.m, of which natural land is 551sq.m.

The district is sparsely populated and its total population is 41,645 people.With the variety and uniqueness of the archipelago, rich ecosystems andbeautiful beaches, the islands have the potential to become a world-classmaritime tourism destination.-VNA