HCM CITY (VNS)— HCM City authorities have asked neighbouring Dong Nai Province to relocate the Bien Hoa Industrial Park No 1 to better protect the water resources of HCM City's nearly 10 million residents. "Pollution in the Dong Nai River has been increasing, and could exceed the capacity of water treatment plants," the chairman of HCM City People's Committee, Le Hoang Quan, said in a letter sent to the provincial authority of Dong Nai. "Waste water from Bien Hoa IP No 1 is one of the major sources of waste causing pollution in Dong Nai River," said the letter, as quoted by the Sai Gon Tiep Thi (Sai Gon Marketing) newspaper. According to the HCM City People's Committee, Dong Nai River is expected by 2025 to supply 2.5 million cubic metres of the estimated 3.7 million cu. m of water to the city per day. Established in 1963, the plant supplies water to 20 million people in the Dong Nai River basin, including almost 10 million residents of HCM City, according to the document … [Read more...] about City wants toxic industrial park moved
Industrial parks
Two Koreas start fresh talks on joint industrial park
SEOUL – North and South Korea on Monday morning started fresh talks on reopening a joint industrial complex whose fate is seen as a touchstone for the future reduction of tension on the Korean peninsula. The talks began at around 10 am (0100 GMT) after two previous meetings earlier this month failed to produce agreement on how to revive the Kaesong industrial park, which was suspended amid high cross-border tensions. "I'll do my best to reopen Kaesong and develop it into an international industrial park," South Korea's chief delegate Kim Ki-Woong told journalists before talks started. Kim replaced Suh Ho in what was described as a regular reshuffle ahead of the talks, held at the Seoul-invested industrial zone some 10 kilometres (six miles) north of the heavily-fortified border. The zone – opened in 2004 as a rare symbol of cross-border cooperation – had long remained resilient to turbulence in ties but eventually became the most high-profile victim of the latest … [Read more...] about Two Koreas start fresh talks on joint industrial park
Industrial parks to get public amenities
The Ministry of Construction has proposed a pilot project to construct cultural, educational and public amenities facilities for employees at industrial parks (IPs). The project is expected to benefit about 20 percent of workers in IPs by 2015 and 50 percent by 2020. The ministry has selected 14 provinces and cities nationwide to pilot the scheme. They include Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, the northern provinces and city of Vinh Phuc, Nam Dinh, Thai Binh, Bac Ninh, Phu Tho and Hai Phong, Da Nang city and Quang Nam province in the central region, and the southern provinces of Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Long An and Tay Ninh. As planned, the facilities will include schools; sports grounds and stadiums; medical stations and hospitals, libraries, museums and theatres; as well as markets and shopping centres. According to the ministry, at the end of 2012, as many as 298 IPs were established in 58 provinces and cities nationwide, with about 1.6 million workers and 600,000 others providing indirect … [Read more...] about Industrial parks to get public amenities
Industrial parks up for review
HCM CITY (VNS)— Thirty of 59 provinces that were asked to review their industrial park land use have said they want to expand the area to attract more investment and develop business. The Government had called for the review in order to deal with situation of redundancy, with many industrial parks in many localities unable to fully use the land they already have. The new move also sought to ensure compliance with the national master plan, reduce inefficiencies and improve land use by industrial parks. The 30 provinces that have asked for an expansion instead of reduction have said they want to meet investment criteria for large-scale, modern and environmentally-friendly projects. The Planning and Investment Ministry has said it will collect opinions from related ministries and departments on the proposals from localities and submit them for consideration to the Prime Minister. It said priority will be given to the proposals of 29 provinces that have asked to retain or reduce … [Read more...] about Industrial parks up for review
Stars perform for thousands of industrial park workers
Golden boy: Pop star Dam Vinh Vung performs at Golden Ochna Welcomes Tet, a music and song programme for migrant workers organised earlier this week by the HCM City Labour Union and its partners. — VNS Photo HCM CITY — More than 30,000 migrant workers in HCM City's Tan Tao Industrial Park attended a special performance on Monday that featured a happy taste of Tet (Lunar New Year) holidays. The event, called Golden Ochna Welcomes Tet, was part of the HCM City Labour Union's charitable and cultural activities during Tet. The programme attracted dozens of local sponsors. Nearly 60 singers, dancers and comedians participated in the festival, including last year's winners of the Mai Vang (Golden Apricot) Award, an annual event that honours local performers in different fields of entertainment. A group of dancers from Bong Sen Theatre opened the show by performing Sai Gon Xuan (Sai Gon to Welcome Spring), a traditional dance. Pop stars Dam Vinh Hung, Ho Ngoc Ha and the pop band … [Read more...] about Stars perform for thousands of industrial park workers