mask
Draft law on topography and cartography
The State would further mobilize resources for development of topographic and cartographic services, encouraging organizations and individuals to invest in the application of geographical information systems.

The State would further mobilize resources for development of topographic and cartographic services, encouraging organizations and individuals to invest in the application of geographical information systems.

The State would further mobilize resources for development of topographic and cartographic services__Photo: Internet

This is one of the principles set forth in the draft law on topography and cartography which has been submitted to the National Assembly for comment.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), the drafter of the law, the 63-article draft has been designed toward facilitating the development of technical infrastructure for topographic and cartographic activities. In addition, a synchronous and modern national topographic and cartographic database would be built to serve resource and environmental management and surveillance, disaster prevention and mitigation, and development of the national geospatial data infrastructure.

The draft law prohibits forging or falsifying topographic and cartographic data and results; destroying or damaging topographic infrastructure works or their safety corridors; and conducting topographic and cartographic activities while not yet meeting the conditions on professional qualifications or under the name of other entities. Acts of publishing or selling topographic and cartographic products or publications containing false information relating to national sovereignty or leaking or disclosing topographic and cartographic information, data or products classified as state secrets would also be banned.

According to the draft, foreign organizations and individuals would be permitted to conduct topographic and cartographic activities in Vietnam only after obtaining a license from the MONRE. Foreign organizations and contractors would be granted licenses if they meet such requirements as having certificates of investment in, or contracts to perform bidding packages involving, topographic and cartographic activities in Vietnam. They would also be required to possess suitably qualified personnel and appropriate technologies and equipment. In case a domestic organization wishes to cooperate with a foreign institution to carry out topographic and cartographic activities in the country, it would have to register the foreign partner’s activities with the concerned line ministry or provincial-level People’s Committee. As for foreign individuals, they would not be granted licenses for topographic and cartographic activities in a personal capacity but must sign employment contracts with Vietnamese organizations or foreign investors or contractors lawfully operating in Vietnam.

As scheduled, the draft law would be passed by the National Assembly at its upcoming session to be held in May.- (VLLF)

back to top