Residents of Phu Quoc Special Zone join hands for APEC 2027

According to leaders of Phu Quoc Special Zone, in implementing projects for APEC 2027, the locality has more than 4,000 households with land affected by site clearance, with a total area of up to 1,201 ha to be recovered. This represents an enormous workload, requiring absolute accuracy and fairness.

Meanwhile, the targets set by the Government and An Giang Province are highly challenging: projects serving APEC 2027 must be completed and put into operation three to six months before the event. This means that only just over one year remains for site clearance and construction.

To provide “clean land” for investors, the authorities of Phu Quoc Special Zone are currently implementing a “campaign” to publicise and mobilise residents to agree to early handover of sites; at the same time, they are urgently carrying out measurement, inventory, and the preparation of compensation and resettlement support lists in strict accordance with regulations.

In recent times, special task forces have been established to visit each project and meet every household whose land falls within the recovery area to conduct outreach and mobilisation. Recently, Secretary of Phu Quoc Special Zone Party Committee Le Quoc Anh led a working delegation to Bai Dat Do, one of the areas where APEC 2027 projects are being built, to conduct outreach and listen to residents’ legitimate concerns and aspirations.

Explaining to residents, Secretary of Phu Quoc Special Zone Party Committee Le Quoc Anh noted that in recent years, Phu Quoc has developed significantly thanks to the implementation of major projects, which have created jobs and promoted local economic growth. The upcoming APEC 2027 Conference is particularly significant, with even larger projects to be built, further driving Phu Quoc’s development. He therefore expressed the hope that residents would work together with the authorities to overcome difficulties in site handover.

The Secretary of Phu Quoc Special Zone Party Committee welcomed households that had voluntarily handed over land for project implementation. “The Phu Quoc Special Zone authorities are determined to implement site clearance, compensation, and resettlement policies in the best possible manner and in accordance with the law for affected residents. We hope that through this, other families will also reach consensus, creating a ripple effect so that together we can prepare well for APEC 2027 and for Phu Quoc’s future development,” Le Quoc Anh stressed.

At the meeting, thanks to transparency and explanations that were both reasonable and empathetic, many households signed land handover records for construction units, creating valuable momentum for mobilising subsequent households. Specifically, 20 households handed over 22 land plots in Bai Dat Do.

Tran Van Tai, who has 187.7 square metres of land, was among the pioneering households and shared with a strong sense of responsibility: “In compliance with the policies of the Party and the State and the authorities of Phu Quoc Special Zone, my family will soon hand over the land area so that construction can proceed quickly and on schedule. I also hope the State will implement appropriate compensation policies for my family.”

Tran Thi Kim Truong expressed her agreement without hesitation: “APEC 2027 is approaching. My family has been mobilised with appropriate compensation, so we agree to hand over the site. As a citizen of the country, if something benefits the country, then it is fine.”

Notably, consensus has gone beyond land handover and has spread into strong calls from residents themselves. Huynh Ngoc Chau, who has 100.06 square metres of land to be recovered, agreed to hand over the site. According to him, this is an event serving the common interest. “I hope that after the working session with the leaders of the special zone, neighbouring households like mine will also voluntarily contribute their small efforts to spread the spirit of APEC 2027. When the event is successful and Phu Quoc develops, it is our children and grandchildren who will benefit, with a brighter future,” Chau shared.

Vice Chairman of the Phu Quoc Special Zone People’s Committee Ngo Minh Tri affirmed that the locality ensures both the legal and humane aspects of site clearance. Accordingly, the locality will properly carry out measurement, inventory, compensation, and resettlement support in accordance with regulations, and arrange for residents to move to resettlement areas with better conditions to ensure stable lives.

“This shows that the authorities are not only concerned about projects, but also about the future livelihoods of residents. The special zone has also established task forces to publicise the significance of APEC 2027 projects, so that residents understand that these works serve the people and the nation, creating momentum for Phu Quoc’s development in the time ahead,” Tri emphasised.

As APEC 2027 draws closer, Phu Quoc faces a rare opportunity to build its image and position on the international stage, thereby realising the goal of becoming a high-quality service centre, an eco-tourism destination, and a national- and international-scale sea and island tourism hub.

The companionship and support of residents will help the authorities quickly hand over cleared land to investors to expedite the construction of key projects serving APEC on schedule, enabling the Pearl Island to move towards a brighter and more prosperous future.