Nguyen Van Hon, deputy head of a board in charge of investment projects on the island, told the Daily the move would entitle the island to direct funding from the central Government, but it would not affect current policies or development plans of the island. All investment incentive policies for the island still apply, he said.

Hon said most of the current developments on Phu Quoc were being funded by Kien Giang Province. If the island district gains the special status, Phu Quoc will receive more direct Government funding to develop infrastructure.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has recently asked the Ministry of the Interior and Kien Giang Province leaders to propose a way to delegate more power to the island district.

The plan to establish Phu Quoc as a special administration-economic zone is part of the revised master plan for the development of facilities for the island until 2030 which has been approved by the Construction Ministry. The Ministry of the Interior has also submitted the plan to the Government for consideration.

Asked if a plan to build a casino complex on Phu Quoc Island will be approved now that a casino in Danang is slated for opening today, Hon said it still remained on paper.

“The Ministry of Finance is mapping out a plan to invite bidders to develop the casino complex. As planned, Phu Quoc will have a complex covering 100 hectares for such services,” he said.

Phu Quoc Island is within one hour flying from HCMC. The central Government has been resolved to develop Phu Quoc into a resort island, which should be able to draw three to five million tourists a year by 2020, and some seven million by 2030.