The event was jointly held by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment(MoNRE), the National Assembly’s Committee for Science, Technology andEnvironment and the Australian Embassy in Hanoi.
Highlighting the significance of the geology and minerals to each country’ssocio-economic development, Vice Chairman of the NA’s Committee for Science,Technology and Environment Nguyen Tuan Anh said that building and completing alegal corridor for the resources are an important mission, which should be madebased on practices and international experience to ensure the effective andsustainable use.
The experience shared at the workshop wasexpected to help Vietnam complete its Draft Law on Geology and Minerals whichwill be submitted to the NA for consideration in the coming time, he added.
Australian Ambassador Andrew Goledzinowski said that since the two countriesset up their diplomatic ties more than 50 years ago, Australia has supportedVietnam in various areas, including building institutions and policies on geology andminerals. Specifically, Australia helped Vietnam build a draft law on minerals in 1996 that has been applied in Vietnam for tens ofyears.
As mining enterprises have to tackle major risks associated with legalprocedures, Vietnam should work towards a more competitive environment,particularly in terms of taxes and costs, to lure more investment, he stressed.
He added that Australia will continue assistance to Vietnam to improve naturalresources management capacity as well as complete institutions in the fields ofnatural resources, environment and climate change.
Difficulties and bottlenecks in mining investment procedures in Vietnam over thepast time were on the table at the event. Experts also discussed issues relatedto state management of geology and mineral resources.
According to Deputy Director of the MoNRE’s VietnamMinerals Department Mai The Toan, Vietnam has some 50 kinds of minerals, and5,000 operating mines. The mining industry makes up of nearly 5% of thecountry’s GDP.
Highlights of the Draft Law on Geology and Minerals which comprises 12chapters and 117 articles are the classification of minerals for management, reformof administrative procedures, using state budget to explore strategic andimportant minerals, enhanced management of sand and gravel in riverbed, lakebedand sea areas, among others./.