Fulbright University Vietnam has a construction permit in Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park.

Fulbright University Vietnam said it received a construction permit for phase 1 at Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park on October 28, 2024.

Mr. Nguyen Nghia Hiep (right) - acting head of the Management Board, Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park - presents the construction permit to President of Fulbright University Scott Fritzen - Photo: FUV

The construction permit of Fulbright University Vietnam was granted for the land lot at lot E4-2, D2 street, High-tech Park, Long Thanh My ward, Thu Duc city, Ho Chi Minh city.

Fulbright Vietnam is expected to begin construction this year.

Dr. Scott Fritzen - President of Fulbright University Vietnam - shared that receiving the construction permit for phase 1 is an extremely meaningful milestone for the school.

Receiving the Phase 1 construction permit will allow Fulbright University Vietnam to begin implementing major components on an area of ​​15 hectares. The total number of Fulbright projects allowed to be built under the permit is 13.

Fulbright Vietnam is expected to begin construction this year. The construction completion time is announced by Fulbright in the fourth quarter of 2026.

According to Fulbright University Vietnam, the new campus is designed to be modern, meeting the highest criteria for environmental protection and creating the best facilities for students.

Mr. Nguyen Nghia Hiep - Acting Head of the Management Board, Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park - emphasized: "We believe that Fulbright will become an influential educational and research center, contributing to the socio-economic development of the locality and the country".

Campus design of Fulbright University Vietnam at the High-Tech Park - Photo: FUV

"Resolving" Fulbright Vietnam's land rental problem

As Tuoi Tre Online reported in previous articles, the investment project to establish Fulbright University Vietnam was approved by the Prime Minister in June 2014.

In February 2016, the Management Board of the High-Tech Park signed a contract to lease land to Fulbright University Vietnam at a price of 0 VND/ ^m2 , an area of ​​more than 15 hectares, for use for 50 years, essentially exempting land rent.

Based on the assessment of the project's operational objectives and significance, the management board based on the decision of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee on the policy mechanism to attract investment in the High-Tech Park and Decree No. 59/2014 on the policy to encourage socialization to exempt land rent.

However, in 2018, the State Audit reported that the exemption of land rent was not in accordance with regulations when considering the project's operational objectives.

The audit estimated the land rent receivable of the project at more than 241 billion VND.

Based on the explanation of the High-Tech Park Management Board, the audit team unanimously reported to the Prime Minister. In 2019, the State Audit Office of Region IV issued an official dispatch implementing the Prime Minister's opinion, collecting over VND241 billion in land rent.

In May 2024, the Office of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee issued a document conveying the conclusions of Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Bui Xuan Cuong and Chief Auditor of the State Audit Office Region IV Tran Khanh Hoa, at a meeting related to difficulties and problems regarding land rent of Fulbright University Vietnam at the Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park.

Accordingly, the City People's Committee and the State Audit Office of Region IV agreed to have a record of the working content to report to the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Finance as directed. The record agreed and affirmed that the content of the 2018 audit report of the State Audit Office is in accordance with legal regulations.

Also in this document, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee assigned the High-Tech Park Management Board to advise and draft a document for the City People's Committee to submit to the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Finance for consideration and decision according to their authority, to be completed in May 2024.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dai-hoc-fulbright-viet-nam-co-giay-phep-xay-dung-o-khu-cong-nghe-cao-tp-hcm-20241031162040677.htm