DECISION

TO ASSIGN THE LICENSING OF FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT PROJECTS

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government of September 30, 1992;
Pursuant to the Law on Foreign Investment in Vietnam of November 12, 1996;
Pursuant to Decree No.12-CP of February 18, 1997 of the Government detailing the implementation of the Law on Foreign Investment in Vietnam;
At the proposal of the Minister of Planning and Investment,

DECIDES:

Article 1.- To assign the licensing of foreign direct investment projects under the Law on Foreign Investment in Vietnam of November 12, 1996 to the following Peoples Committees of the provinces and cities directly under the Central Government (provincial Peoples Committees for short):

1. The municipal Peoples Committee of Hanoi.

2. The municipal Peoples Committee of Ho Chi Minh City

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4. The municipal Peoples Committee of Da Nang.

5. The provincial Peoples Committee of Ba Ria - Vung Tau

6. The provincial Peoples Committee of Dong Nai.

7. The provincial Peoples Committee of Binh Duong.

8. The provincial Peoples Committee of Quang Ninh.

Article 2.- The provincial Peoples Committees listed in Article 1 of this Decision shall have to receive and evaluate project dossiers and grant investment licenses to foreign direct investment projects stated in Article 3 of this Decision.

Article 3.- The foreign direct investment projects to be licensed by the provincial Peoples Committees must meet the following conditions:

1. To comply with the overall development plan of the technical- economic branch, the already approved general socio-economic development plan and the plan of the locality.

2. To have an investment capital of up to 10 million USD for investment projects in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh cities or up to 5 million USD for investment projects in other provinces and cities, except for projects specified in Article 4 of this Decision.

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4. Foreign invested enterprises and foreign business cooperation parties shall ensure their own need in foreign currency(ies).

5. Equipment, machinery and technologies must comply with current regulations; if not, they must be approved in writing by the competent agency that manages economic-technical branch before investment licenses are granted.

6. To meet the requirements on environmental protection, labor safety and prevention and fight against fires and explosives.

Article 4.- The licensing of projects is not assigned to the provincial Peoples Committees for the following projects:

1. Projects of group A as prescribed in Article 93 of Decree No. 12-CP of February 18, 1997 of the Government detailing the implementation of the Law on Foreign Investment in Vietnam.

2. Projects in the following fields:

- Oil and gas prospection, exploitation and services.

- Power generation.

- Construction of sea ports, airfields, highways and railways.

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3. Projects in industrial zones, export processing zones and hi-tech parks.

Article 5.-

1. Investment project dossiers shall be made according to the guidance of the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

2. The project evaluation shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions in Articles 83, 92, 94, 96 and 100 of Decree No.12-CP of February 18, 1997 of the Government detailing the implementation of the Law on Foreign Investment in Vietnam.

The provincial Peoples Committee shall have to consult the Ministries and branches on the issues which come under their competence but are not yet specified.

The Ministries and branches which are consulted on projects, including supplements and amendments, shall have to reply in writing within 7 days after receipt of the written inquiry of the provincial Peoples Committee. Past this time limit, if they receive no reply in writing, the project shall be deemed to be approved.

3. The investment license shall be drafted according to the form issued by the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Within 7 days after granting the investment license, the provincial Peoples Committee shall send the original investment license to the Ministry of Planning and Investment and copies of it to the Office of the Government, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry that manages the economic-technical branch.

Article 6.- The provincial Peoples Committee may supplement and amend investment licenses of the projects under its licensing competence as assigned.

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Article 7.- Every quarter, six months and year, the provincial Peoples Committee shall make a wrap-up report on the granting, supplementing and amending of investment licenses and send it to the Office of the Government and the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Article 8.- Basing itself on the actual situation, the Ministry of Planning and Investment may propose the Prime Minister to decide to adjust the assignment conditions and make addition or addiction to the list of provinces and cities directly under the Central Government assigned to grant investment licenses.

Article 9.- This Decision takes effect from July 1, 1997.

The Ministers, the Heads of the ministerial-level agency, the heads of the agencies attached to the Government and the Presidents of the Peoples Committees of the aforesaid provinces and cities directly under the Central Government shall have to implement this Decision.

THE PRIME MINISTER




Vo Van Kiet