City tells hi-tech park managers to find own funds
HCM CITY (VNS)— The HCM City People’s Committee has asked the Sai Gon Hi-Tech Park to spell out its plans to attract much-needed investment to build infrastructure for its second phase.
At the meeting with the SHTP management board last week, city Deputy Chairman Le Manh Ha said the plans should incorporate ways to mobilise investments from private sources and loans to reduce dependence on public funds.
A VND8 trillion (US$384.2 million) project to build infrastructure for the second phase by 2020 was approved by the committee late last year.
But the SHTP management board admitted the need to speed up the work to attract investors, especially major firms involved in hi-tech industries.
SHTP plans to get loans and attract build-transfer (BT) investors for developing technical infrastructure in the industries zone, logistics zone, and management and service area.
The park will use city funds to develop other infrastructure like roads, sewerage, and water and electricity supply facilities.
Most of the park’s 300 hectares in the first phase have been leased out, according to its deputy chief Le Bich Loan. Ten investors has already registered to lease land in the 613ha second phase, but infrastructure was not yet ready for the projects.
In 2013 the park expects to attract six to 10 projects with a combined investment of $160 million, mostly in IT, hi-tech services, and research and development.
SHTP’s exports are forecast to be $2.7-3 billion this year. — VNS