At the signing ceremony (Photo VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - The Ministry of Transport and the AustralianGovernment on February 9 signed an agreement to launch Aus4Transport, a 24million USD programme for the development of transport projects in Vietnam.
The programme will provide funding and expertise to developnew transport projects from the concept stage to the beginning of construction.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Australian Ambassador to VietnamCraig Chittick said Australia had a long history of helping develop Vietnam’stransport sector.
“Since the 1990s, Australia has supported Vietnam to developthe infrastructure that has underpinned the country’s remarkable economictransformation,” he said.
One example is the My Thuan Bridge, the first cable-stayedbridge in Vietnam, which crosses the Tien River and connects Tien Giang and VinhLong provinces. It was opened in 2001 and has helped improve connectivity for20 million people in Mekong Delta to HCM City.
Additionally, the Cao Lanh Bridge in Dong Thap province isexpected to open for traffic this year, helping reduce travel time from LongXuyen province to HCM City.
The ambassador said that Aus4Transport marked a new era inAustralia’ assistance and they wanted to work with Vietnam to ensure itsprojects attract international finance and to implement them faster.
Transport Minister Nguyen Van The said Vietnam appreciatedAustralia’s assistance which helped create milestones in the country’s transportinfrastructure and development and also improve technical expertise ofVietnamese staff.
The minister added that Vietnam wants engagement from theprivate sector and foreign investors in transport projects.
Aus4Transport will run from 2018 to 2022 and aims to developfive new major road projects. It is expected that the programme’s impacts willextend far beyond these projects by demonstrating new models and policies thatcan improve value for money for Vietnam’s transport investments.-VNA
VNA
