Special Economic Zones and

Health Impact Assessment

Presented by Janis Shandro, ADB Consultant on 17 October 2017

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this paper/presentation are the views of the
author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Asian Development
Bank (ADB), or its Board of Governors, or the governments they represent. ADB does
not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this paper/presentation and
accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. Terminology used may
not necessarily be consistent with ADB official terms.
Outline
SEZs in the GMS
Experience in managing Community Health and
Safety risks in an SEZ
Vision for HIA and SEZ development
Observations across the GMS
Current Work
Opportunities for ADB
>500 Special Economic
and Industrial Zones in
the GMS

10s of millions of
workers

New communities
with sustainable
businesses

The economic engines

of the GMS
 SEZ and HIA Alignment
Special Economic Zones Both have a
focus on
Long term vision of growth and prosperity
maximizing
Focus on regions outside of mega-centres
benefits at
Differential rules for business
the local
Health Impact Assessment level

How an event, policy or project can influence

health and determinant of health outcomes
Systematic, evidence-based decision and/or
management support tool
Experience
Nghi Son Special Economic Zone, Viet Nam
 The Project

Onshore 396 ha
Offshore 259 ha

Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Limited Liability

Company (NSRP) was established in April 2008 as a JV
(PetroVietnam), Idemitsu Kosan, Mitsui Chemicals and Kuwait
Petroleum International in the Nghi Son Economic Zone (NSEZ)
 Some details
$9 Billion Petrochemical Project A cultural mixing pot between
owner/EPC/construction workforce
$5 billion lump sum contract negotiated 40+ Sub-contractors; projected workforce
prior to financing secured from IFIs peaked at 40,000
Conformance to IFC Performance Standards
>10,000 people resettled
required as part of loan agreement
 Conducted a Health Impact Assessment of our project on
My Role the local district

Managed the implementation of mitigation measures

related to influx and community health and safety

Managed community Managed the assessment and surveillance of worker health

health and safety and the and accommodations
influx of 40,000 workers
Developed, implemented and enhanced health surveillance

Directed strategic community and worker health

investments
Pre-condition Roads in poor conditions Service infrastructure
with unsafe driving (hospitals) in poor
practices condition.

Lack of consistent
electricity

Lack of waste
management

No safe water, or
sanitation facilities,
Pre-condition SEZ areas for
development in the
populated area
Site Preparation Identified
 Dust and industrial traffic
(dump trucks) increases due
Pre-condition to site preparation and
levelling
Site Preparation
Resettlement
locations built up
Site Clearance

Fishermen lose their

access to the water
Bulldozers wiping Farmers lose
the site clean access to fields
 Traffic gets
Pre-condition chaotic

Site Preparation
Some resettled
people get
jobs in
Site Clearance construction

Construction

Red light
districts emerge
Men coming to and
from site to build the Pop up shanty shops
industrial sites start to establish
near gates
 Resettled people have nothing now to
do, loss of construction jobs, living in
Pre-condition a different urban setting than farmers,
fishermen
Site Preparation

Site Clearance

Construction

Operation

Industrial pollution
(air and water) from Hazardous material traffic
different projects arrives at site - oops there is
starts to make a spill and no capacity to
people sick respond
 New areas for SEZ development being
planned on the resettlement area
Pre-condition
Site Preparation

Site Clearance

Construction

Operation
Next site
 Health Risks Important to SEZ
Health Outcome Associated Determinant
Traffic morbidity and mortality Chaotic Traffic
Vector-borne diseases Standing water
Mental well-being (anxiety and Resettlement/Loss of livelihood
depression)
Multi-drug resistant TB Crowded conditions
Other communicable diseases Poor Knowledge, Attitude and
Practices
Respiratory infections and Dust
disease
 A place where national and
international businesses can operate
with good social and environmental Health Services
performance
Proper Zoning

Waste
Management

Organized Traffic

Safe and Healthy

Workers and
Community Members
SEZ Differences across the GMS
SEZ an entire District

Projects lack buffer

zones

SEZ managed by GoV

Viet Nam, Nghi Son SEZ

SEZ Differences across the GMS
SEZ spread across 2
Districts

Layouts and buffer

zones vary

SEZ managed by GoV-

Private partnership

Lao PDR, Savan-SENO SEZ

SEZ Differences across the GMS
SEZ secured area

Non-heavy industry

SEZ owned, operated

and managed
privately

Tai Seng Bavet SEZ, Cambodia

 HIA Process for SEZs: Ideal
Policies and Guidelines

Baseline Management
Risk Surveillance &
Screening Scoping Data Measures &
Assessment Response
Collection Implementation

Surveillance
Commissioned by MoH and MoH and SEZ Authority MoH;
SEZ Ministry responsible for managing zone. Response -
Collaborative
HIA Status in the GMS
Country HIA HIA HIA Training Demo
Legislation Guidelines Projects

Cambodia Under 1
development
Lao PDR 2
Myanmar Under 2
development
Thailand 2
Viet Nam Updating 1
 Current Work on SEZ and HIA
Cross-border issues;
GMS HIA Framework for
Applicable for all GMS
SEZ
countries
December
2017
Country Specific HIA
HIA process support Lao PDR
Guidelines for SEZ
and Thailand
Development

HIA GMS Forum for SEZ November 28,

Development All GMS countries 2017 Bangkok
 Opportunities for ADB in SEZ areas to
promote healthy people and
infrastructure
Transportation Road and Highway Safety; Access to
health/emergency services
Energy Electricity transmission and distribution
for SEZ and Health Facilities
Urban Development Waste management, Open Spaces for
Exercise, Pedestrian walkways, Proper
Zoning
Finance Microcredit

Health Health system strengthening

Thank You!!!