JICA to Help Vietnam Upgrade $81.33M Expressway

Officials from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) tomorrow will work with Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport on providing technical assistance for upgrading an expressway in the north. Earlier, Japan’s Central Nippon Expressway Co., Ltd (Central Nexco) sought to join the project on expanding Phap Van-Cau Gie expressway into a 30-km and four-lane one, the Dau tu newspaper reported Feb 28. Central Nexco and some other Japanese investors will contribute VND960 billion to upgrade the expressway, raising total investment of the project to VND1.7 trillion ($81.33 million).  The upgrading is expected for start in 2011 and scheduled for completion in 2013. Once operational, the route will allow vehicles to travel at between 100 and 120km per hour. (Dau tu – Investment Feb 28 p2)