Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has urged Khanh Hoa Province to accelerate the construction of the Van Phong international container transshipment port, and development of Cam Ranh Airport.
The PM told leaders of the central province during his Tuesday visit that top priority must be given to the transshipment port in Van Phong Bay, where Korean group Posco plans to build a steel complex, which may affect the container port to some extent.
“This is the number one priority. Whatever you do, you must not reduce the capacity of the port,” the Government leader told Khanh Hoa officials.
The PM also stressed that “the number two priority is environment.” “Environmental protection must be a key factor in considering projects for investment,” he said, adding that a national panel would be set up to appraise Posco’s plans for its steel manufacturing project.
Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, head of the Government Office, reiterated that his office has not allowed Posco to go ahead, and only agreed in principle that Posco plans the project.
Mr. Phuc also called Khanh Hoa officials’ attention to the case in which the Hyundai-Vinhashin shipyard has seriously broken the Law on Environment by releasing its polluting waste into the environment.
Also at the meeting, Prime Minister Dung asked provincial leaders to work out more concrete policies in favor of industrial and agricultural production, services and exports as well as to bring in broader access to lending sources for production and export businesses.
Khanh Hoa is home to Nha Trang Bay and Nha Trang City, which hosted the Miss Universe 2008 contest earlier this month. The province also houses many famous tourist destinations and attractions.
