Investment Attraction Aligned with Resource and Environmental Protection

To become a relatively developed province in the region, Ca Mau is trying to attract more investment inflows, especially high-quality funds, prioritizing environmentally friendly projects to unlock local advantages, while not harming the environment or resources. Our reporter has an interview with Mr. Trinh Van Len, Director of Ca Mau Department of Natural Resources and Environment, on orientations and efforts to improve resource efficiency, environment management and investor facilitation.

In recent years, Ca Mau province has been attracting investment funds for development, coupled with environmental protection. Could you please tell us more about this approach, as well as some typical projects?

Attracting investment funds for economic development is important but Ca Mau province never exchanges the environment for economic growth. Development investment must be tuned with environmental protection.

Accordingly, in its investment attraction approach, the province focuses on the following areas: agricultural development, with a focus on high-tech agriculture; industry, with an emphasis on renewable energy (wind power and solar power) and gas power; ecotourism; and marine economy.

Typical projects include clean energy projects and renewable energy projects. The province currently has 16 projects in the approved master plan with a total installed capacity of 1,000 MW, of which 14 projects were licensed for investment (three projects are already commercially operational: Tan Thuan wind power plant (phase 1 and phase 2), Tan An wind power plant (phase 1); seven projects are under construction; four projects are prepared for construction procedures); and two projects are seeking approval.

In addition, Ca Mau Provincial People's Committee asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade for adding 37 projects with a total capacity of 25,564 MW to the planning, including 24 wind power projects, nine solar power projects and four gas power projects. Once in operation, these projects will help ensure energy security and sustainable socioeconomic development.

How have you reformed administrative procedures to support investors? How has the province improved management by building its land database?

Along with infrastructure construction and economic sector development, we aim to reform administrative procedures, build an open investment environment and enhance competitiveness, regarding them as important viewpoints and orientations of Ca Mau province to 2030.

In the first six months of 2022, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment advised the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to announce two revised and supplemented administrative procedures and approve interagency internal processes regarding geographic measuring, mapping and information; announce nine new administrative procedures, replace two procedures, and abolish six procedures and ratify interagency internal administrative processes regarding environment.

In addition, we have reviewed and advised to reduce the settlement time of administrative procedures by 20% in the natural resources and environment sector compared with the time frame recommended by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for 10 administrative procedures announced in Decision 467/QD-UBND dated on February 15, 2022 and Decision 723/QD-UBND dated March 9, 2022 of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

Regarding land database, the province has to date completed building the cadastral database in five districts (Cai Nuoc, Phu Tan, Thoi Binh, Dam Doi and U Minh) and Ca Mau City. Cadastral records have been handed over to all levels for management and operation. One district is constructing this database while two others have conducted surveys to establish technical designs. It is expected that the cadastral database of Tran Van Thoi district will be completed by the end of 2022 and the two remaining districts will finish it by 2025.

The land database will serve strict and accurate management and use of land, work as a basis for registration of land use rights, land allocation, land lease, land recovery, land compensation, site clearance and new licensing.

Enhancing the effect of land compensation and site clearance is an important solution to raise the "Access to Land" Index of Ca Mau province

Land clearance is always challenging. What advice and solutions have you recommended to address it? In addition, under Resolution 18-NQ/TW of the 5th Meeting of the Party Central Committee (13th term) on land compensation and resettlement support upon land acquisition, how has Ca Mau been carrying out this issue?

In general, in recent years, land acquisition by organizations, households and individuals in the province has been carried out in line with the order and rule, with the interests of persons with revoked land guaranteed. Changes in compensation and site clearance policies built up the consensus of the people, thus helping quickly hand over the clear ground for licensed projects.

However, some regulations on land compensation and resettlement support are still inadequate. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue Decision 30/2021/QD-UBND dated October 11, 2021 on regulations on land compensation and resettlement support for State-reclaimed land in Ca Mau province in place of Decision 62/2015/QD-UBND dated December 31, 2015 of the Provincial People's Committee.

In addition, we are reviewing some emerging policies and advising the Provincial People's Committee to consider and issue directives and plans to make positive changes in awareness and action; and build up consensus in land planning, compensation and site clearance.

Moreover, executing Resolution 18-NQ/TW dated June 16, 2022 of the Party Central Committee (13th term), the Ca Mau Department of Natural Resources and Environment has coordinated with relevant agencies to advise the Provincial People's Committee to work out the Action Program of the Executive Board of the Provincial Party Committee which points to activities to be implemented after the National Assembly enacted the amended Land Law, the Government issued decrees and ministries launched guiding circulars, Party committees and governments at all levels must focus on leading and directing land compensation and resettlement support and when the State takes back land.

In 2021, the "Access to Land" Index of Ca Mau province scored 7.28 points, climbing 0.42 points over 2020. In order to maintain and promote this result, what solutions will you focus on in the coming time?

The Access to Land Index of Ca Mau province consecutively went up from 2016 to 2021. In 2021, it scored 7.28 points (ranking 21st out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide; 7th out of 3 Mekong Delta provinces and cities), an increase of 0.42 points over 2020.

With the function of a specialized agency advising the Provincial People's Committee in the field of land, in the coming time, the Provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment will further reform administrative procedures; actively review unused or inefficient land funds to create a clean land fund for investment projects.

Besides, we will further improve the quality and performance of the Land Access and Administrative Procedure Support Team to support people and businesses; promptly remove inconsistent land regulations; and focus on solutions to improve the effect of land compensation, site clearance and resettlement.

We will also coordinate with relevant agencies to advise the Provincial People's Committee to develop and introduce solutions to improve mechanisms, policies and regulations on the management and exploitation of land, natural resources, digital transformation and State administration of land access.

Thank you very much!

Source: Vietnam Business Forum