Quang Tri province authorities have approved adjustments to the investment plans and investors for the TNC Quang Tri 1 and 2 wind power plant projects, with a combined capacity of 100 MW and total investment capital after the adjustments exceeding VND3.63 trillion ($139.97 million).

Under the adjustment decision issued by the provincial People’s Committee, TNC Quang Tri 1 Wind Power JSC is the investor of the TNC Quang Tri 1 Wind Power Plant, which has a capacity of 50 MW and is expected to generate about 128.48 million kWh of electricity annually.

The project will use about 32.5 hectares of land, including 17.5 ha of land allocated for a fixed term and 15 ha for temporary use. Total investment capital has been increased to VND1.81 trillion ($69.77 million), including VND362 billion contributed by the developer and nearly VND1.45 trillion in mobilized capital.

TNC Quang Tri 2 Wind Power Joint Stock Company is the investor of the TNC Quang Tri 2 Wind Power Plant, which has a capacity of 50 MW and is expected to generate 128.83 million kWh of electricity annually.

The project will also use about 32.5 hectares of land, with total investment capital after the adjustment set at VND1.821 trillion ($70.2 million), including VND364.2 billion in investor-contributed capital and nearly VND1.46 trillion in mobilized capital.

The two projects have a combined expected annual electricity output of about 257.31 million kWh.

Quang Tri initially gave in-principle approvals to both projects in 2020, with adjustments made in July 2022 and September 2025.

Under the initial investment plan, TNC Quang Tri 1 had a capacity of 50 MW and was expected to use 22.37 hectares of land, including 17.37 hectares of land for fixed-term use and 5 hectares for temporary use, with total investment capital of more than VND1.805 trillion ($69.6 million).

Meanwhile, TNC Quang Tri 2 also has a capacity of 50 MW, with a planned land area of 22.37 hectares, including 17.37 hectares of land for fixed-term use and 5 hectares for temporary use. The project's initial total investment was more than VND1.167 trillion ($44.99 million).

Following several adjustments, total investment capital for TNC Quang Tri 1 and 2 increased to VND1.81 trillion ($69.77 million) and VND1.821 trillion ($70.2 million), respectively.

At the same time, the planned land area for each project increased from 22.37 hectares to 32.5 hectares, mainly due to an increase in temporary land use from 5 hectares to 15 hectares.

Previously, in July 2026, Quang Tri province also adjusted the investment plan for the SCI Tan Thanh Wind Power Plant, invested by SCI Quang Tri JSC. The project's investment capital was increased to VND1.83 trillion ($70.58 million), while its capacity was raised from 30 MW to 42 MW and its scheduled operation was pushed back to the end of 2027.

Beyond delays, the investor selection process has also exposed several shortcomings. The Quang Tri provincial Inspectorate said 13 of 14 wind power projects had their requests for expressions of interest approved without sufficient legal grounds regarding land, while five projects lacked detailed planning schemes or zoning plans at a scale of 1:2,000 at the time of approval.

Some dossiers also applied investor experience criteria that were not in line with regulations, potentially affecting competition and transparency.

However, the provincial Inspectorate assessed that the projects were consistent with the Power Development Plan VIII and other relevant planning schemes, and found no signs of policy abuse or serious violations by the investors.

It recommended that relevant agencies draw lessons from the issue and review applicable regulations to ensure that energy projects are implemented in accordance with the required procedures in the future.

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) is seeking comments on a draft amendment to the Investment Law, which proposes easing market access conditions for foreign investors.

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) is seeking comments on a draft amendment to the Investment Law, which proposes easing market access conditions for foreign investors.

During the consultation process, the proposal has received feedback from various ministries, agencies and businesses. Many have suggested that consideration be given to regulations governing sectors in which foreign investors would be permitted to own up to 100% of charter capital.

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) said that allowing 100% foreign ownership in sectors such as financial services, accounting, auditing and travel agency services would mean that foreign capital inflows and outflows would be larger and more sensitive to global interest rate and exchange rate movements, thereby increasing the risk of capital-flow reversals.

In response, the MoF said that, among the 91 conditional market-access sectors and subsectors, 10 currently only require the establishment of a joint venture but do not impose any foreign ownership cap. This means foreign investors are already entitled to own up to 99.9% of charter capital in these sectors.

Therefore, removing the joint-venture requirement would not materially change the scale of foreign capital flows into these sectors. Instead, it would primarily remove barriers to market access and reduce compliance costs, in line with the tasks set out in the Politburo's Resolution No. 10-NQ/TW and the Prime Minister's Decision No. 2014/QD-TTg dated September 12, 2026.

According to the Ministry of Finance, Clause 3a of Article 8 of the revised draft has also been amended to establish a general principle.

It stipulates: “Based on socio-economic conditions and State management requirements in each period, the Government shall consider and decide on the relaxation of market access conditions in sectors and industries subject to restricted market access for foreign investors as provided for in laws and resolutions of the National Assembly, ordinances and resolutions of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, Government decrees and international investment treaties, ensuring publicity, transparency, consistent application and non-discrimination among investors.”

Compared with the first draft, the MoF has therefore removed the provision specifying “100% foreign ownership” of foreign investors.

For sectors in the finance and banking fields, the MoF said that any consideration of easing market access conditions, if applicable, must involve consultation with the SBV in its capacity as the sectoral regulator. It must also be subject to a comprehensive impact assessment, including its potential effects on the scale and structure of capital flows and on financial-system safety.

The ministry has asked the SBV to coordinate during the drafting of the detailed implementing decree.

Safeguards to prevent discretionary application

Commenting on the draft amended law, the Ministry of Industry and Trade proposed adding principles and criteria to prevent discretionary application of the provisions.

The Vietnam Association of Foreign-Invested Enterprises (VAFIE) also proposed making it clear that the Government may only make decisions based on a published list of sectors and a set of criteria. Any decision should clearly state its legal basis, scope, duration and conditions, and should be published on the National Single Window for Investment and subject to periodic review.

According to VAFIE, such a mechanism would allow Vietnam to pursue selective market opening while eliminating the potential for a “request-and-grant” mechanism.

The MoF said that, following revisions, Clause 3a of Article 8 of the draft law no longer refers to the concepts of “strategic investment projects with major impacts on socio-economic development” or “other projects.”

Instead, the relaxation of market access conditions would be determined on a sector-by-sector basis, regardless of whether a project is identified as strategic.

According to the ministry, the revised draft has established multiple layers of safeguards to eliminate the risk of discretionary application.

The draft law dossier has now been submitted to the Ministry of Justice for appraisal.

The Mayors’ Conference held within the framework of the 3rd Ho Chi Minh City Friendship Dialogue 2026 adopted a joint declaration, affirming the increasingly important role of local diplomacy within the nation’s overall foreign policy.

The 3rd Ho Chi Minh City Friendship Dialogue 2026 (FD 2026) was held from September 10 to 12, theming “Local Diplomacy: Driving Force for Innovation and Sustainable Growth.”

The event gathered nearly 500 delegates, including leaders from central ministries and sectors, Ho Chi Minh City officials, and 35 international delegations spanning four continents.

During the Mayors’ Conference, which was held in the framework of the FD 2026, a Joint Declaration was adopted, recognizing the growing role of subnational and local diplomacy in the implementation of national foreign policies.

Furthermore, participants agreed to assign focal agencies from Ho Chi Minh City and participating international localities to collaborate on concrete action plans in preparation for the 4th Ho Chi Minh City Friendship Dialogue scheduled for 2028.

In his opening address, Standing Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Loc Ha stated that the presence of international delegates reflects friendship, trust, and solidarity.

He noted that the gathering demonstrates a shared desire to strengthen connectivity, share development opportunities, foster innovation, enhance competitiveness, and jointly address challenges for sustainable growth.

Amid increasingly complex global developments, Mr. Ha highlighted that urban centers play a crucial role in shaping new growth drivers. Cities serve as focal points where strategic resources, knowledge, technological breakthroughs, and dynamic economic activities converge.

However, the municipal leader emphasized that no single city or locality can tackle modern development issues entirely on its own. Therefore, international cooperation is not merely an option, but a foundational requirement that determines the sustainable development capacity of every nation.

Looking ahead, Ho Chi Minh City has affirmed that strengthening internal resources, enhancing economic autonomy, and building national resilience must proceed in tandem with expanding comprehensive and deep-level international cooperation.

Through platforms like the Friendship Dialogue, the southern economic hub aims to reinforce its role as a key gateway for international integration, innovation, and sustainable development.

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