HCMC – The Government has urged the southern province of Dong Nai to accelerate site clearance for the Long Thanh International Airport Project – Phase 1 to help meeting the schedule of the entire project.
According to official dispatch No. 6426 released by the Government Office on September 14, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh asked the province to speed up disbursement, compensation and resettlement and resolve issues related to the component projects of resettlement areas.
To construct the Long Thanh International Airport, Dong Nai Province has to clear some 5,000 hectares of land, including more than 2,530 hectares for the first phase.
The Natural Resources and Environment Department of Dong Nai said the province has cleared and handed over 1,284 hectares to the Southern Airports Corporation as the project owner, meeting 51% of the area needed to be cleared for the first phase.
However, the Ministry of Transport said site clearance for the project remains slow.
The authorities of Long Thanh District blamed shortcomings in the implementation of compensation policies for the slow site clearance process. Besides, the complicated Covid-19 situation has led to the suspension of some work.
Government orders termination of IUU fishing by year-end
The Government Office also released official dispatch No. 245 in which Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh ordered fishery authorities to put an end to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities no later than the end of this year.
All 28 coastal localities must strictly control fishing vessels in and out of fishing ports, monitor the output of aquatic products being unloaded through the ports, certify the origin of aquatic products and strictly punish any violations from local fishermen.
Besides, the prime minister asked all cities and provinces to soon complete the installation of a vessel monitoring system in every fishing boat, especially in Quang Tri, Tra Vinh, Quang Ninh and Ha Tinh.
The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) and seafood companies should work closely with the Government and the local authorities to address IUU fishing.
According to VASEP, Vietnam’s seafood exports to the European Union have plunged significantly since the European Commission issued a yellow card for IUU fishing to Vietnam in October 2017.
Vietnam’s total marine product exports to the EU have dipped by 12%, or US$183.5 million, in just two years after the yellow card was issued.
VASEP said if Vietnam is unable to get the yellow card lifted soon or receives a red card warning, the country’s seafood sector would lose an estimated US$480 million in annual export revenue.
Vietnamese seafood products have reached over 160 markets and stood firm in many large and rigorous markets such as the EU, the United States, Japan and South Korea, which have a great influence on the world market.
However, consumers in the world market are increasingly interested in responsible and sustainable products. Therefore, combating IUU fishing is critical first and foremost for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s fishery industry, as well as responding to market trends and regulations so that Vietnam maintains its reputation and foothold in the markets.
By Van Ly
