HCMC – The Ministry of Home Affairs has sent a report on the proposed establishment of Phu Quoc Island City and its wards to the Government, the Kien Giang government announced on September 30.
Phu Quoc covers over 589 square kilometers and has a population of 177,480 people in 10 communes and towns. After being turned into a city, Phu Quoc will have two wards and seven communes, according to the ministry.
The ministry highlighted several strengths in turning the locality into a city, saying that the island district of Phu Quoc saw its total budget collection reach over VND5.2 trillion in 2019, while its total budget spends stood at VND2.3 trillion.
Aside from this, the rate of poor households in Phu Quoc had reduced from 0.93% in 2017 to 0.65% in 2019.
Phu Quoc Island is home to 320 projects spanning a combined 10,900 hectares, with a total registered capital of over VND340 trillion. Of the total, 47 projects with a total capital of VND13.5 trillion have been put into operation.
The island welcomed over three million tourists in 2019, accounting for some 60% of the total tourist arrivals in Kien Giang Province, Nguoi Lao Dong Online reported, citing the ministry’s report.
In 2014, Phu Quoc was recognized as a Grade II City, helping the locality develop further. However, its government apparatus has been overloaded due to the locality’s management, which is based on the rural government model.
Besides, two towns, Duong Dong and An Thoi, are developing well and deserve to become wards.
The establishment of Phu Quoc City and its wards meets and complies with the regulations of Clause 2 of Article 128 of the Law on Local Government Organizations and matches the general plan for the development of Kien Giang Province until 2020, with a vision toward 2030.
The establishment is expected to benefit the growth of Kien Giang Province and Phu Quoc. Locals in the district have thrown their support behind the plan to turn Phu Quoc Island District into a city, according to the ministry.
The Ministry of Home Affairs also said that Phu Quoc meets the necessary standards to become a city.
