Quang Tri accelerates construction of Trieu Phu Industrial Park

The Trieu Phu Multi-Sector Industrial Park (IP) project has a total investment capital of over US$180.1 million and is being implemented in Trieu Trach, Trieu Son, and Trieu Lang communes (now merged into Trieu Co commune), Trieu Phong district, within the Southeastern Quang Tri Economic Zone.

The project covers an area of 531.25 hectares. According to the plan, construction of Zone A and Zone B1, along with Traffic Connection Bridge No. 1, was scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2025. However, due to various subjective and objective reasons, the project has experienced delays.

The Trieu Phu Industrial Park is within the Southeastern Quang Tri Economic Zone. Photo: T.T

The Trieu Phu Multi-Sector IP project was approved for investment policy by the Prime Minister on March 5, 2021, under Decision No. 308/QD-TTg. The project investor is Trung Khoi Joint Stock Company. The industrial park spans 531.25 hectares, including Zone A (238.89 hectares), Zone B (248.81 hectares), and Zone C (43.55 hectares).

The project’s objective is to invest in the construction and business operation of industrial park infrastructure. The total investment capital exceeds $180.1 million, with a project lifespan of 50 years from the date of investment policy approval.

For Phase I, the proposed implementation timeline includes completing land clearance, land handover, and construction permit issuance for Zone A (238.89 hectares), Zone B1 (59.50 hectares), and Traffic Connection Bridge No. 1 (1.02 hectares) in the first quarter of 2025. Construction of these areas is also set to begin in the first quarter of 2025. By the third quarter of 2025, construction of the wastewater treatment system in Zone A and the centralized wastewater treatment plant in Zone B1 will commence. By the second quarter of 2027, investment in and completion of infrastructure in Zone A, Zone B1, and Traffic Connection Bridge No. 1 is expected.

However, the implementation process has faced numerous difficulties and obstacles. Explaining the reasons for the project delays, Deputy Head of the Provincial Economic Zone Management Board Truong Khac Nghi stated that procedures such as establishing the industrial park, approving the change of forest land use for project implementation, and making localized adjustments to the Phase 2 master plan of the Southeastern Quang Tri Economic Zone encountered significant challenges.

As a result, it was not until 2024 that the localized adjustment of the Phase 2 master plan for the Southeastern Quang Tri Economic Zone was completed and the project implementation timeline was formalized in the investment registration certificate. Additionally, land clearance issues affected 32 households (25 residential plots in Zone B and seven in Zone C), but no specific resettlement plans had been formulated, leading to a passive approach in project preparation steps, such as investment registration and land clearance execution.

Apart from external challenges, the Provincial Economic Zone Management Board noted that from 2022 to 2023, the investor lacked strong commitment to project execution, further contributing to the delays.

To address these difficulties and obstacles, in November 2024, the provincial government established a Task Force to support the investor in executing the industrial park infrastructure construction and business project.

The Task Force has actively assisted the investor in completing procedures related to investment registration, planning, construction, fire prevention and control, land clearance, resettlement, land use conversion, forest exploitation, exclusion of the project area from national mineral reserve zones, and other relevant legal processes.

With strong commitment from provincial authorities to support the investor in overcoming challenges, the investor has now completed key procedures, including the establishment of the industrial park, environmental impact assessment, documentation for forest land conversion, and payment of USD 598,000 for replacement afforestation in Zone B. Additionally, the land use plan, localized adjustment of the Phase 2 master plan for the Southeastern Quang Tri Economic Zone, and formalization of the project timeline in the investment registration certificate have been finalized.

The Trieu Phong District People’s Committee is coordinating with the investor to implement land clearance and prepare documentation for timber extraction in Zone B. The Provincial Economic Zone Management Board is evaluating the detailed 1/500 scale planning, while the investor is preparing a feasibility study (F/S), developing construction designs following the basic design phase, and completing procedures for land use conversion and lease applications in compliance with regulations.

On February 8, 2025, Trung Khoi Joint Stock Company issued an official commitment to completing all investment and construction procedures in accordance with the project implementation timeline outlined in the investment registration certificate. The investor is accelerating progress to finalize the necessary procedures, aiming to commence construction of Phase I project components in early Q2 2025. Should the project fail to meet the committed timeline without legitimate reasons approved by state management agencies, the company will bear full responsibility under applicable laws.

In reality, several projects within industrial parks and economic zones managed by the Provincial Economic Zone Management Board have experienced delays beyond their approved investment policies. In 2024, the province focused on assisting 13 projects facing difficulties to accelerate implementation while decisively terminating nine investment projects that failed to meet progress requirements.

Alongside strong provincial efforts to resolve legal and land clearance obstacles, ensuring optimal conditions for the investor to proceed with the project, the investor’s commitment, and the ongoing preparations by the Provincial Economic Zone Management Board, plans are in place to commence construction of the Trieu Phu Multi-Sector Industrial Park in the second quarter of 2025.

The Southeast Quang Tri Economic Zone, spanning 17 communes and towns across the districts of Hai Lang, Trieu Phong, and Gio Linh, is home to the most significant strategic projects in Quang Tri province. Experts recognize that this economic zone offers favorable conditions for attracting large-scale investments.

The entire area of the economic zone features a flat terrain with vast land reserves, most of which remain unused. The low value of trees and structures on the land facilitates site clearance. This abundant land supply is well-suited for large-scale projects.

Additionally, the Southeast Quang Tri Economic Zone benefits from an advantageous transportation network, including road, rail, waterway, and air connections, ensuring seamless integration with national and international transport routes.

Nguyen Duc Thien, Deputy Head of the Quang Tri Economic Zone Management Board, highlighted that the road network has been comprehensively planned and developed to meet the demands of the economic zone.

“In the near future, several new routes, including the North-South Expressway, the coastal road linking the East-West Economic Corridor, the Cam Lo - Lao Bao Expressway, and the expanded National Highway 15D, will be constructed, unlocking further potential and advantages of the Southeast Quang Tri Economic Zone,” Thien emphasized.

According to the Quang Tri Provincial Plan for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, the Southeast Quang Tri Economic Zone plays a critical role in the province’s development. It has been designated as a key sub-region in the province’s socio-economic strategy. The zone is set to become a comprehensive, multi-sector economic hub, a major growth driver in Central Vietnam, and an international trade center.

In terms of development strategy, the Southeast Quang Tri Economic Zone is planned as a comprehensive coastal economic zone, with a focus on energy and multi-sector industries, capitalizing on coastal advantages and logistics. Plans include the construction of an airport in Gio Linh and a seaport in My Thuy.

Thanh Truc - Ngoc Mai