The Vietnamese Government should soon finalise legal documents on the public-private partnership (PPP) model for infrastructure projects in the country, said an embassy trade counsellor.

Speaking at a seminar on the PPP model for Vietnam’s aviation infrastructure development, the US trade official said that the PPP model will create an abundant financial resource for Vietnam.

The US is willing to assist the Vietnamese Government, ministries and agencies in implementing policies and laws, regarding PPP, he said.

Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Dang Huy Dong said that infrastructure projects face difficulties in seeking financial resources, even in well-managed countries.

The application of the PPP model will help overcome these challenges, Dong said, adding that the Vietnamese Government has pledged to promote the PPP model in Vietnam with priority given to aviation and road transport infrastructure.

The Vietnamese Government will enhance the application of the model in other fields like education, science and technology, he added.

General Director of Zurich Airport Company Thomas Kern said he hoped the model will be successfully applied in Vietnam’s aviation infrastructure with the involvement of international partners and that it will help the Vietnamese economy strongly develop.

To successfully apply the model, Vietnam should build legal documents and a comprehensive policy on PPP, remove barriers in administrative procedures to lure domestic and foreign private investors and ensure transparency in selecting investors, said the Chairman of the Vietnam Bank for Investment and Development Board of Directors Tran Bac Ha.

Vietnam now boasts five international and 17 domestic airports, though most of them were built before 1975 and have only short runways.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications said that Vietnam will need more than 10 billion USD for aviation infrastructure development projects from now until the end of the year./.