6 specific policy groups
On May 13, the National Assembly reviewed the submission and report on the review of the draft Resolution of the National Assembly replacing Resolution No. 35/2021/QH15 dated November 13, 2021 of the National Assembly on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Hai Phong City.
According to the Government's submission, the issuance of a new resolution to unblock "bottlenecks", create breakthroughs, have great influence in the Red River Delta and contribute more to the country's high growth target in the 2026-2030 period is necessary and in line with the goals set by the Politburo.
The draft Resolution of the National Assembly stipulates 6 large policies with 41 specific policies, including: Investment management (2 policies); Finance and state budget management (4 policies); Management of planning, urban, natural resources and environment (9 policies); Scientific and technological management, innovation innovation (8 policies); Income of officials, public servants and public employees of Hai Phong City (1 policy); Establishment and mechanisms and policies in the free trade area in Hai Phong City (17 policies).
In particular, Hai Phong identifies the field of science and technology (STI) and innovation as a new driving force in the coming time. Therefore, the selection of policies will create a strong enough mechanism to support and promote the activities of creative startups, organize science and technology, organize intermediaries to support innovative startups; create motivation to attract experts, scientists and capital from outside, promote the development of priority industries and fields. This policy is similar to the policy that the National Assembly has allowed to be applied to Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang City.
The draft Resolution proposes decentralization to the City People's Committee to decide on the establishment, expansion, and adjustment of the boundary of the Hai Phong Free Trade Zone associated with Dinh Vu - Cat Hai Economic Zone and the Southern Coastal Economic Zone of Hai Phong similar to the industrial park.
This policy creates a legal corridor for the Hai Phong Free Trade Zone to pilot outstanding and breakthrough specific mechanisms and policies to attract investment, finance, trade, services to promote exports, industry, research and development (R&D) activities and attract high-quality human resources.
Many development strengths are not worthy
practice shows that Hai Phong has achieved high economic growth, playing a driving role in the economic triangle of Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh. However, the city still faces limitations such as economic scale not commensurate with potential, budget revenue structure dependent heavily on FDI, unsynchronized infrastructure and lack of breakthroughs in science and technology. Resolution 35/2021/QH15, although bringing some results, has not created a breakthrough due to the lack of outstanding mechanisms and slow implementation.
Speaking with Lao Dong, delegate Pham Trong Nghi (Lang Son delegation) emphasized that specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Hai Phong City need to be studied to cover the new administrative boundaries to not only promote the current potential and strengths but also consider the whole city when expanding.
Because currently, Hai Phong is a rare locality with enough air roads, inland waterways, shipping roads, roads and railways. However, inland waterways and railways are not commensurate, and are still bottlenecks. The delegate proposed to exempt Hai Phong seaport infrastructure for goods sent by waterway to attract the need to use inland waterways of enterprises.
Delegate Nguyen Thi Viet Nga (Hai Duong Delegation) said that Hai Phong has not yet developed tourism commensurate with its potential. Therefore, to be worthy of its role not only as a growth pole but also a driving force for development for the region and the whole country, becoming a modern city, leading, completing industrialization early, modernizing, and having a position, Hai Phong needs to have specific policies and mechanisms to meet development requirements.
Regarding the policy of visa exemption and issuance of 10-year temporary residence cards to foreigners who are experts, scientists, people with special talents, managers, and highly qualified workers working at enterprises headquartered in the Hai Phong Free Trade Zone, the delegate proposed to specify the criteria for evaluating what constitutes an expert and what constitutes a person with special talent to limit abuse when applying the policy.
