Proposal to appraise 3,300 billion VND road tunnel; Commencement of railway renovation project worth over 2,000 billion VND

Proposal to appraise 3,300 billion VND road tunnel; Commencement of railway renovation project worth over 2,000 billion VND

Proposal to appraise the Hoang Lien Pass tunnel project worth 3,300 billion VND; Commencement of the railway renovation project worth more than 2,000 billion VND in Quang Binh ... Those are two of the notable investment news in the past week.

Investment in Thanh Long Lake Eco-tourism Resort, Hai Duong Province

In Official Dispatch No. 1706/VPCP-QHDP dated March 15, 2024, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh commented on two recommendations and proposals of the People's Committee of Hai Duong province.

Hai Duong Provincial People's Committee has implemented necessary steps to invest and develop Thanh Long Lake area in accordance with regulations, preventing negativity and corruption.

Regarding the investment in Thanh Long Lake Eco-tourism Resort, the Planning of Hai Duong Province for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 (Decision No. 1639/QD-TTg dated December 19, 2023 of the Prime Minister) and the Adjustment of the General Planning of Chi Linh City, Hai Duong Province to 2040 (Decision No. 555/QD-UBND dated February 25, 2022 of the People's Committee of Hai Duong Province) have oriented the development of Thanh Long Lake area into an Eco-tourism Resort. The Prime Minister has assigned the People's Committee of Hai Duong Province and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to coordinate in establishing the Planning Task for the preservation, restoration and rehabilitation of the Con Son - Kiep Bac special national relic.

The People's Committee of Hai Duong province proactively coordinated with the People's Committee of Bac Giang province to fully absorb the opinions of the Ministries of Construction, Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Natural Resources and Environment to implement necessary steps in accordance with the correct processes and procedures to invest and develop the Thanh Long lake area in accordance with regulations and not allow negativity and corruption to occur.

Regarding the investment in the project to renovate and upgrade National Highway 37 from National Highway 18 to An Linh Intersection, Chi Linh City, Hai Duong Province, the Prime Minister agreed with the proposal of the Hai Duong Provincial People's Committee on the necessity of implementing the project.

The project has been approved by the Ministry of Transport (Decision No. 2164/QD-BGTVT dated September 30, 2011). The Prime Minister has also assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment to preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies to propose a capital allocation plan to implement the project (Document No. 105/TB-VPCP dated March 31, 2023 of the Government Office). The Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Planning and Investment to urgently carry out the assigned tasks and report to the Prime Minister before March 30, 2024.

Completing the dossier to adjust the Master plan of Vietnam's seaport system

The Government Office has just issued Notice No. 102/TB-VPCP dated March 15, 2024, concluding the conclusion of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha at the meeting on adjusting the Master Plan for the development of Vietnam's seaport system for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050.

Illustration photo. (Source: Internet)

In Notice No. 102/TB-VPCP, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha acknowledged and highly appreciated the Ministry of Transport's responsibility and proactiveness in organizing, implementing research, and preparing the Dossier to adjust the Master Plan for the development of Vietnam's seaport system for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050 (Dossier to adjust the Plan). This is an important and urgent task. The Deputy Prime Minister requested that relevant ministries, branches, localities and agencies be responsible for closely coordinating with the Ministry of Transport, promptly sending comments at the request of the Ministry of Transport according to regulations.

Based on the written opinions of ministries, branches and localities, and the opinions of delegates attending the meeting, the Ministry of Transport urgently reviewed, received and fully explained relevant opinions to complete the Planning Adjustment Dossier in accordance with the procedures and regulations of the law on planning, noting that: the adjusted and supplemented contents must be fully explained on the political, legal, scientific basis, practical requirements and impact assessment on both economic and environmental efficiency according to regulations; new concepts not yet included in legal documents ("smart port", "green port"...) must be clarified in terms of concept, content, scientific and feasible.

At the same time, the Deputy Prime Minister also requested the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City to urgently complete the Project on Research and Construction of Can Gio International Transit Port (Project) according to regulations and instructions of the Government Leaders in the documents of the Government Office: No. 305/TB-VPCP dated August 2, 2023, No. 7320/VPCP-CN dated September 23, 2023, No. 52/TB-VPCP dated February 13, 2024, in which it is noted to clearly and specifically assess: feasibility, economic efficiency, comprehensive impact of environmental factors, ecosystem, requirements to ensure national defense and security in relation to the planning of Ho Chi Minh City, regional planning and other related planning; feasibility and economic efficiency in relation to Ba Ria - Vung Tau seaport, Cai Mep - Thi Vai wharf area; On that basis, identify and clearly report the output products of the Project (decision to supplement the Seaport Planning; specific policy mechanisms for the Can Gio International Transit Port Business Investment Project;...), accordingly, only report and submit to the Prime Minister the contents beyond the authority.

Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee proactively sends a document to the Project (responsible for information, data and feasibility) to the Ministry of Transport for reference, research and processing during the process of preparing the Planning Adjustment Dossier.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment, according to its assigned functions and tasks, shall proactively coordinate closely and issue written instructions to the Ministry of Transport on the procedures, processes, and dossiers for adjusting the Planning, noting the necessity of establishing an Appraisal Council to conduct appraisal of the Planning adjustment to ensure strictness, science, and compliance with the Law on Planning and Resolution 61/2022/QH15 of the National Assembly.

Proposed investment plan for Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 4, section through Ba Ria - Vung Tau

The People's Committee of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province has just sent Official Dispatch No. 3043/UBND - VP to the Ministry of Transport asking for opinions on the investment plan for the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 4 Project, the section passing through Ba Ria - Vung Tau province.

Illustration photo.

The Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 4 project through Ba Ria - Vung Tau province has a route length of 18.23 km with the starting point at the Toc Tien - Chau Pha intersection, the intersection with Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway and DT992, about 230m from Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway; the end point is in Chau Duc district, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province (bordering Dong Nai province, Bau Can Lake location) connecting with the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 4 project in Dong Nai province.

According to the planning of Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 4 through Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, the section has 8 lanes and a cross-section width of 74.5m; in the phase of the route, it is invested in a 4-lane expressway with the investment method being PPP, BOT contract type.

In Official Dispatch No. 3043, the People's Committee of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province agreed on the capital recovery plan of 20 years.

With the 4-lane highway plan, the roadbed width is 25.5m (similar to the plan proposed by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee) in case the Ministry of Transport requests to unify this scale on the entire route in phase 1: The total investment of the project is about 7,972,293 billion VND, of which state capital is 3,965 billion VND, accounting for 49.75% (central budget capital is 1,983 billion VND, local budget capital is 1,983 billion VND); investor capital is 4,005 billion VND, accounting for 50.25%.

With the 4-lane highway option, roadbed width of 27m, the total investment of the Project is about 8,100.279 billion VND, of which state capital is 4,095 billion VND, accounting for 50.57% (central budget capital is 2,048 billion VND, local budget capital is 2,048 billion VND); investor capital is 4,005 billion VND, accounting for 49.43%.

The People's Committee of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province proposed that the Prime Minister support the central budget capital to implement the project in the period of 2021-2025, the period of 2026-2030 for Ba Ria - Vung Tau province about 50% of the total state budget capital participating in the project as proposed by the localities in the region.

In addition, to be consistent with the financial plan of projects in the region (the proposed general capital recovery period is about 20 years) and to facilitate the selection of investors, the People's Committee of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province believes that it is necessary to propose to the National Assembly and the Government to increase the state budget contribution to the project to more than 50% of the total project investment and choose the capital recovery period for the projects to be about 20 years.

According to the plan, the People's Committee of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province will direct the General Consulting Unit to coordinate with the Department of Transport of localities and Consulting Units to prepare Pre-feasibility Study Reports of component projects to unify the scale, general technical standards, regulations, applicable technical standards, investment phases, plans, implementation progress... to submit to the Ministry of Transport for consideration and direction in March 2024.

Develop specific mechanisms and policies for the construction projects of Ho Chi Minh City's Ring Road 4, submit them to the Ministry of Planning and Investment for appraisal in April 2024; report to the Prime Minister and submit them to the National Assembly for approval in June 2024.

Localities complete the Pre-Feasibility Study Reports of projects and submit them to competent authorities for approval of investment policies in the third quarter of 2024; carry out compensation and site clearance from the fourth quarter of 2024 to the fourth quarter of 2026; select investors in the third quarter of 2025; organize construction and complete the project in the fourth quarter of 2027.

Technical opening of the main eastern route of Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway in 2024

This is the commitment of VEC to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Canh, Vice Chairman of the State Capital Management Committee at Enterprises, during the site inspection of the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway Construction Project last weekend.

According to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Canh, the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway construction project is a key transport infrastructure project, receiving special attention from the Prime Minister and Government leaders because this is a section of the North - South Expressway, connecting the Southeast provinces and the Mekong Delta.

Vice Chairman of the State Capital Management Committee at Enterprises Nguyen Ngoc Canh and the working delegation inspected the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway Construction Project.

Therefore, in the role of investor - Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC) needs to take advantage of favorable weather, speed up construction progress, ensure safety, quality and efficiency, especially strengthen the work of ensuring traffic safety, labor safety and environmental sanitation during construction.

Regarding the difficulties and problems of the Project, the Vice Chairman of the State Capital Management Committee at Enterprises said that he will report to competent authorities to promptly resolve them.

Specifically, for Package J3 - Construction of Phuoc Khanh Bridge and overpass through Can Gio District, the leader of the State Capital Management Committee at Enterprises, Nguyen Ngoc Canh, will work with the Japan International Cooperation Bank - JICA to adjust the Agreement, allowing Vietnamese contractors to participate in construction and installation, completing the remaining work of this Package.

“Regarding the remaining land issues, VEC is urgently working with Dong Nai province to completely resolve the land issues, so as not to affect the project progress,” Vice Chairman Nguyen Ngoc Canh directed.

Regarding the expansion plan of the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway Project, Vice Chairman of the State Capital Management Committee at Enterprises Nguyen Ngoc Canh requested VEC to focus on completing the Project investment plan and submit it to the Government before March 17, 2024 for synchronous implementation with the progress of the Long Thanh International Airport construction project.

According to Mr. Pham Hong Quang, General Director of VEC, up to this point, the total output value of implemented construction packages has reached about 80% of the adjusted construction value of the Project.

In which, the western section using ADB loan, packages A2-1 and A3 have been completed and are undergoing acceptance and handover procedures. Package A1-1, the contractor has started to implement the remaining work volume of Package A1. Package A2-2 and A4, VEC has issued bidding documents to select contractors to construct the remaining work volume.

For the JICA-funded section, Package J2 has now been completed. For Package J1, the contractor has started burning K1 of the main span of the Binh Khanh cable-stayed bridge and is continuing to burn K2 as well as the remaining items of the approach bridge.

However, although the J3 Package has issued bidding documents to select contractors to construct the remaining work volume, it has not received any attention from Japanese contractors. Therefore, VEC has reported to JICA to allow the adjustment of adding Vietnamese contractors to participate in the bidding selection as independent contractors.

Regarding the eastern section using ADB loan capital, Package A5 has been completed. Package A7 has reached 84% of output, currently the contractor is implementing mass construction of asphalt concrete items on the Thi Vai bridge approach.

According to Mr. Truong Viet Dong, Chairman of the Board of Directors of VEC, the unit is resolutely directing the Advisory Board, Project Management Board and construction contractors to focus on human and material resources; put all efforts into speeding up progress and ensuring quality.

“VEC is determined to strive to put part of the route into operation before October 2024 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Corporation's founding (October 6, 2004 - October 6, 2024) and open the entire route to traffic in 2025,” Mr. Dong emphasized.

Kon Tum adds 4 projects to investment attraction list

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Tuan has just signed Decision No. 116 on approving the addition of the List of Projects to attract investment in Kon Tum province for the period 2021 - 2025.

Accordingly, the new Northern Kon Tum City Bus Station Project in Ngo May Ward, Kon Tum City; with a scale of 15,967 m2, capacity of 650 vehicles/day and night, total investment capital of about 18 billion VND is added to the List of projects to attract investment in Kon Tum province in the period of 2021 - 2025.

The Provincial People's Committee assigned the Department of Planning and Investment to preside over and coordinate with departments, branches, sectors, Kon Tum City People's Committee and relevant units to effectively call for and attract investment into the province; develop an appendix describing investment attraction projects to serve the work of advertising and promoting investment.

Previously, on January 19, Kon Tum Provincial People's Committee also added 3 motor vehicle inspection center projects to the list of projects attracting investment in Kon Tum province.

Specifically, the Kon Tum City Motor Vehicle Inspection Center Project (Kon Tum City) has an investment capital of 14 billion VND, the Ngoc Hoi District Motor Vehicle Inspection Center Project has an investment capital of 11 billion VND and the Sa Thay District Motor Vehicle Inspection Center Project has a total investment capital of 8 billion VND.

According to the Kon Tum Provincial People's Committee, the investment in the three motor vehicle inspection center projects above aims to serve the needs of road motor vehicle inspection of people in the locality and neighboring areas.

Submit to the Prime Minister for approval the project to establish the South Hai Phong Economic Zone in the second quarter of 2024

Mr. Le Trung Kien, Head of the Hai Phong Economic Zone Management Board, said that the City is urgently completing documents and procedures to submit to the Prime Minister for approval the project to establish the Southern Coastal Economic Zone in the second quarter of 2024.

Nam Do Son Port Plan.

This is the content informed at the Workshop "Southern Coastal Economic Zone - New driving force for Hai Phong economic development" organized by Hai Phong Economic Zone Management Board in coordination with Vietnam Maritime University on March 17.

In his opening speech, Mr. Pham Xuan Duong, Rector of Vietnam Maritime University, stated that developing the Southern Coastal Economic Zone is a very important, urgent and correct orientation of Hai Phong in order to make the best use of opportunities, promote potential advantages, and create open development space for many years to come.

The workshop is an opportunity to look at and clearly assess the opportunities and challenges; identify the work that needs to be done to soon form the Southern Coastal Economic Zone. As one of the key national universities, Vietnam Maritime University identifies that participating in the process of building and forming the Southern Coastal Economic Zone is a responsibility and right that needs to be focused on. In particular, the university has specific programs and plans to contribute to training human resources to serve the needs of future economic zone development.

According to Mr. Le Trung Kien, the effectiveness of Dinh Vu - Cat Hai Economic Zone; the results of Hai Phong's investment attraction over the past 30 years, along with its important location in the dynamic region of the Red River Delta, located in 3 important economic corridors, the South Hai Phong Coastal Economic Zone plays a particularly important role in connecting with neighboring economic zones, forming a chain of coastal economic zones, driving the development of the whole region. The South Hai Phong Coastal Economic Zone is oriented to develop into an ecological, circular, dynamic and sustainable economic zone; a multimodal connection center; a smart industrial network; a modern and dynamic urban - service system; while still respecting cultural identity and connecting with existing areas.

This will be a dynamic, sustainable ecological economic zone of Hai Phong with an area of about 20,000 hectares, including Do Son district and An Lao, Kien Thuy, Tien Lang, Vinh Bao districts. The new economic zone will be oriented to develop a free trade zone, prioritized to develop projects of industrial parks (IPs), industrial clusters (ICs), international logistics centers, urban areas along the coastal road, taking advantage of the planning area of Nam Do Son port and international airport in Tien Lang district.

The city also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of New York & New Jersey (USA) on developing a complex of seaports, airports, urban areas, industry, energy, and logistics with a scale of 5 - 10 billion USD.

According to the investment phase plan, in 2024 - 2025, the City will promote the proposal to establish the Economic Zone; in the 2026-2030 period, establish and submit for approval the general planning for the construction of the Economic Zone; invest in infrastructure construction; invest in the construction of functional areas and start attracting investment in secondary projects. After 2030, continue to complete the infrastructure, continue to attract investment...

The city will accelerate the promotion process to establish industrial parks under the free trade model; target multinational corporations to invest in dynamic projects; selectively attract investment, promote high-tech and ecological industries; propose mechanisms and policies on investment incentives; mechanisms and policies to enhance decentralization and authorization; specific mechanisms and policies to develop the free trade model.

At the workshop, economic experts, researchers, managers and lecturers of the Maritime University... all expressed their high consensus on the policy and orientation of establishing the Southern Coastal Economic Zone of Hai Phong. Affirming that this is an inevitable trend and hoping that the project will be approved soon. At the same time, many opinions were contributed on the Free Trade Zone model; solutions to ensure the efficiency and competitiveness of the Economic Zone; human resource training plan; priority development areas; new opportunities and challenges; proposing a number of specific policy mechanisms, especially special mechanisms to increase the attractiveness of the Economic Zone after its establishment.

Hai Phong City currently has 14 operating industrial parks. The industrial parks in the city have affirmed their increasingly important position in the economic restructuring towards industrialization and modernization, contributing to improving the business environment and enhancing competitiveness, promoting the development of this locality. The industrial parks in the area have been invested in synchronous technical infrastructure with an area of over 6,000 hectares, creating an industrial production land fund of over 4,000 hectares, with an average occupancy rate of about 60.5%.

In 2023, Hai Phong was approved by the Prime Minister to invest in Xuan Cau Industrial Park and Duty Free Zone (752 ha) and Tien Thanh Industrial Park (410 ha). Currently, the Hai Phong Economic Zone Management Board is coordinating with investors, functional agencies, and local authorities to speed up the construction of infrastructure for the above two industrial parks. It is expected that by 2024 - 2025, these industrial parks will be put into operation, providing more than 1,000 ha of industrial land for the market.

In addition, Hai Phong will develop 13 new industrial parks with a total area of nearly 5,000 hectares. Of these, 4 industrial parks including Nam Trang Cat, Thuy Nguyen, Trang Due 3 and Giang Bien with a total area of over 1,383 hectares have submitted documents to the Ministry of Planning and Investment requesting approval of investment policies.

The locality has also prepared a plan for a new industrial development phase with a vision to 2050. According to the construction plan, Hai Phong City plans 25 industrial parks with a total maximum area of 15,777 hectares, and establishes a new economic zone in the South of Hai Phong with an expected area of about 20,000 hectares.

In particular, with the goal of becoming a modern industrial city, in recent times, Hai Phong City has been encouraging investors to focus on developing ecological industrial park models, sustainable and effective development, enhancing green transformation, and reducing carbon emissions in industrial parks.

Ministry of Transport announces results of pilot project on using sea sand as roadbed

The Ministry of Transport has just issued Official Dispatch No. 2499/BGTVT-KHCN&MT to the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to announce some results and main contents of the pilot project on using sea sand as roadbed.

Pilot use of sea sand for the DT978 restoration section of the Hau Giang - Ca Mau section component project.

Previously, the ministry piloted the use of sea sand as roadbed on the DT.978 repatriation section of the Hau Giang - Ca Mau section of the North - South Eastern Expressway Construction Project in the 2021-2025 period and established a Ministerial Council to evaluate the implementation results.

The results show that the sea sand used for the pilot section has physical and mechanical properties that meet the requirements for roadbed materials according to TCVN 9436:2012 “Roadbed - construction and acceptance”. The report summarizing the construction work, inspection and assessment of construction quality, and environmental monitoring also shows that there is sufficient basis to use sea sand for roadbed construction in conditions similar to the testing area of the Pilot Project.

However, according to the Ministry of Transport, because the pilot has only been implemented on a small scale, the design level is lower than that of the highway, the quality of sea sand has only been studied for one area (sea sand mine in Tra Vinh province), and the technical regulations and standards on salinity for crops and livestock are not complete.

Therefore, the widespread use of sea sand materials for highway construction needs to be further piloted and expanded in projects with higher scale and design levels, as well as piloted in different natural conditions, environmental conditions, and sources of sea sand materials to have a basis for comprehensive evaluation.

In Official Dispatch No. 2499, the Ministry of Transport stated that the Ministerial Council agreed to use sea sand as the embankment material for expressway roads with some conditions: only use sea sand that meets the material standards according to TCVN 9436:2012, use for embankments with density K≤ 95 in areas with saline environmental conditions similar to the testing area of the Pilot Project. In the immediate future, it should be considered to use it for the subsurface area, K95 embankment, and the roadbed area located below the area affected by live load.

In addition, it is necessary to deploy environmental monitoring solutions to monitor the level of impact during implementation.

Along with the Ministry of Transport's pilot implementation of using sea sand at the DT.978 repaved section, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has implemented a project to assess mineral resources in Soc Trang province, in which it basically assessed the indicators of sea sand in the coastal areas of Soc Trang province to meet the requirements for roadbed filling materials according to TCVN 9436:20122.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has transferred to the People's Committee of Soc Trang province documents and records to carry out procedures for exploiting and supplying materials for projects according to the specific mechanisms prescribed in Resolutions No. 43/2022/QH15 and Resolution No. 106/2023/QH15 of the National Assembly.

Based on the above results, the Ministry of Transport recommends that the People's Committees of provinces and cities, based on the needs and actual conditions of project implementation in the locality, organize a pilot project to expand the use of sea sand as roadbed for traffic construction projects with natural and environmental conditions similar to the Pilot Project.

During the implementation process, units need to study the recommendations of the Ministry-level Scientific Council; have solutions for environmental monitoring, organize supervision, and assess the level of impact during the implementation process; ensure compliance with regulations on investment, construction and other relevant legal regulations; synthesize data and send it to the Ministry of Transport; at the same time, continue to survey, collect data and develop norms according to the provisions of Article 21 of Decree No. 10/2021/ND-CP on management of construction investment costs.

Currently, the demand for materials used for filling and embankment for transport projects in the Mekong Delta is very large, with the demand for 4 key expressway projects currently being implemented at about 56 million m3, not to mention the demand for sand materials for embankment for other projects invested by local authorities. Although the reserves of river sand materials have been identified by localities and basically arranged enough resources, the exploitation and supply capacity has not met the demand for materials according to the progress of project implementation. In case of excessive increase in exploitation capacity, it will lead to riverbank erosion, affecting social life in the region. In addition, the Mekong Delta is an area greatly affected by climate change.

Strive to energize the 220 kV Nam Sum - Nong Cong line before April 30, 2024

The 220 kV Nam Sum - Nong Cong transmission line project (part in Vietnam) is 129.95 km long, including 299 foundation - column positions and 99 anchorages, passing through Que Phong and Quy Chau districts (Nghe An province) and Nhu Xuan, Nhu Thanh and Nong Cong districts (Thanh Hoa province).

Illustration

As of March 13, the project has completed casting foundations at 252/299 locations; completed erecting columns at 233/299 locations; completed pulling wires at 19/99 anchors; and is currently constructing simultaneously at locations where the site has been handed over and where construction conditions are met...

It is worth mentioning that, according to the plan, the Project must be completed and energized in January 2024, but there are still 76 anchorage spaces and 42 column foundation positions that have not been handed over due to difficulties and problems in compensation, site clearance and conversion of forest use purposes.

Therefore, Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) has just had a working session with the People's Committee of Nghe An province, the People's Committee of Que Phong district, and the People's Committee of Quy Chau district, proposing to remove difficulties and obstacles in site clearance for this project.

At the working session with the National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT), EVN leaders also listened to the supervision consultant, the construction contractors reported specifically on the progress, difficulties and obstacles of each location; at the same time, committed to completing the Project according to the schedule required by the investor.

According to the request of EVN leaders, the 220 kV Nam Sum - Nong Cong transmission line project plays a particularly important role in serving the import of electricity from Laos, ensuring electricity for the North, especially from the hot season of 2024.

Therefore, contractors need to fully understand the urgency and role of this project. From there, increase human resources, vehicles, machinery, financial resources, and make maximum efforts to complete the project's energization no later than April 30, 2024.

Nghe An Province and the People's Committees of the districts have also committed to completing and handing over the site soon. Therefore, EVN leaders also requested that the National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT) direct the Northern Power Project Management Board to make breakthroughs in project management; and work more closely with localities to speed up the site clearance progress.

Consider whether or not to establish a Southeast Region Infrastructure Development Fund

To speed up the construction of regional transport infrastructure projects, especially beltways and highways, provinces in the Southeast region are studying options for establishing a Southeast Region Infrastructure Development Fund.

Ring Road 3, Ho Chi Minh City is currently under construction simultaneously in 4 provinces and cities including Ho Chi Minh City, Long An, Binh Duong, Dong Nai. In the photo of the construction of Ring Road 3 through Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: Le Toan

At the 4th conference on exchange and cooperation between localities in the Southeast region, the first quarter of 2024, which took place recently, the research team of the World Bank and the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies proposed 5 options for establishing a Southeast Region Infrastructure Development Fund based on the legal framework and practices of Vietnam.

In option 5, there are two options. One is to establish a Regional Infrastructure Development Fund in the form of an investment bank operating under the Law on Credit Institutions and current relevant legal regulations. The other is to establish a National Investment Fund for Regional Infrastructure Development.

According to the research team, the above 5 options can essentially be divided into 2 groups. Group 1 (short-term, immediate solution) is to improve, upgrade and amend current institutions (local development investment funds and VDB). Group 2 is to establish a new Regional Infrastructure Development Fund (medium and long-term solution).

The expert group of the World Bank and the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies agreed that the two groups of solutions do not replace each other, but complement each other and that there should be two phases for the Regional Infrastructure Development Fund model:

In the period 2024 - 2026, short-term actions will be to upgrade, improve and expand the scope of operations of local development investment funds in the region.

In particular, it is proposed to amend and supplement Article 2, Clause 1, Article 3, Clause 1, Article 15, Article 27 of Decree No. 147/2020/ND-CP of the Government regulating the organization and operation of the Local Development Investment Fund.

At the same time, research and issue criteria applicable to local development investment funds in expanding and upgrading investment activities in regional projects.

In addition, review and evaluate HFIC's operating model to make improvements and upgrades suitable to the scale and development strategy of the Southeast region.

In the period of 2026 - 2030, research and build a new financial institution for the Southeast region such as: Project to establish the Southeast Region Infrastructure Development Fund or the National Fund for Regional Infrastructure Development Investment with the chairmanship of the Ministry of Finance and the direct participation of the World Bank expert group.

Currently, localities are discussing and analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of each option before reporting to competent authorities in the second quarter of 2024.

Ministry of Transport outlines orientation to upgrade Tho Xuan Airport - Thanh Hoa

The Ministry of Transport has just sent an official dispatch to the National Assembly delegation of Thanh Hoa province regarding the proposal of voters of this province to upgrade Tho Xuan Airport to an international airport.

Specifically, the Ministry of Transport said that the Master Plan for the development of the national airport system for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 20501 and the Tho Xuan Airport Plan for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 both orient the function of Tho Xuan Airport in the national civil airport network as an international airport; the scale of infrastructure in the period up to 2030 meets the capacity of about 5 million passengers/year, with a vision to 2050 meeting the capacity of about 7 million passengers/year.

Tho Xuan Airport - Thanh Hoa.

Investment in developing construction items at Tho Xuan Airport will be carried out according to approved planning based on transport growth needs, ensuring compliance with current regulations.

Currently, Tho Xuan Airport has reached the scale of a 4C airport, ensuring the exploitation of code C aircraft (such as A320/A321 and equivalent); the aircraft parking lot meets 06 positions; the passenger terminal is designed with a capacity of about 1.2 million passengers/year.

Regarding operations, in recent years Tho Xuan Airport has mainly operated domestic flights, and has operated a number of irregular international charter flights using the old military terminal, but has not yet operated regular international flights.

Passenger throughput through Tho Xuan Airport in recent years has approached its design capacity, however, international exploitation demand is not high.

Therefore, in the immediate future, the Ministry of Transport requests that localities study and call on airlines to operate more irregular international flights to/from Tho Xuan Airport to develop the international flight market. When there is a need for regular operations, the Ministry of Transport will carry out procedures to announce the International Airport according to regulations.

Regarding investment in the development of Tho Xuan Airport, in its role as the Tho Xuan Airport enterprise, Vietnam Airports Corporation - ACV is reviewing and balancing resources to invest and expand essential works of the Airport according to the plan.

Besides, Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee is also studying the Project to mobilize social capital to invest and exploit Tho Xuan Airport.

“In the coming time, the Ministry of Transport will continue to closely coordinate with the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa province, the State Capital Management Committee at enterprises and ACV to study the investment plan to develop Tho Xuan Airport according to the plan, ensuring to meet the transportation needs and socio-economic development of the province,” the leader of the Ministry of Transport informed.

Thai Binh continues to welcome large investment flows

Nine projects with a total investment capital of VND 10,000 billion were granted investment policy approval decisions, investment registration certificates, and investment cooperation memorandums of understanding right at the Conference to Announce the Planning of Thai Binh Province for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050.

Of the 9 projects, 6 are from foreign investors.

Firstly, the Keystone Electrical Vietnam Factory Project produces hand-held power tools and metal components, with a designed capacity of 4.8 million products/year. The project has a total investment of 40 million USD, located in Lien Ha Thai Industrial Park, and will come into operation from the second quarter of 2025 for phase I and the second quarter of 2027 for phase II.

Second, the Yulong Vietnam shoe sole production project at Factory No. NX 18 rented from Nam Tai Thai Binh International Co., Ltd. (Lien Ha Thai Industrial Park). The project has an investment capital of 2.6 million USD, production operations from the second quarter of 2024, with a capacity of 4.8 million pairs of EVA midsoles/year and 4.8 million pairs of RB outsoles/year.

Third, the project to produce precision plastic products, with a total capital of 2.3 million USD. The project will be implemented at Factory No. NX 15 rented from Nam Tai Thai Binh International Company Limited (Lien Ha Thai Industrial Park). The project will be put into operation from the third quarter of 2024.

Fourth, DALI Vietnam Sanitary Equipment Factory Project, with products such as wash basin faucets, bathtubs, and showers. Total investment capital is 10 million USD, built in Cau Nghin Industrial Park (Quynh Phu District). The project is expected to officially come into operation in June 2025.

Fifth, the project of Xuli Cargo Control Company Limited produces cargo nets, zippers, and cables with an investment capital of 20.7 million USD in Tien Hai Industrial Park (Thai Binh Economic Zone); expected to officially come into operation in May 2025.

Sixth, the project to produce modified plastics and smart LED lights, with a total investment of 2.68 million USD. The project will be implemented in Gia Le Industrial Park, Dong Hung District. The project will be put into operation in the second quarter of 2024, with a designed capacity of 8,000 tons/year of PE and PVC plastic pellets and 150,000 LED light strings/year.

The remaining three projects of Vietnamese investors include the Winsun Toys & Sports Vietnam Factory Project of Winsun Toys & Sports Vietnam Joint Stock Company in Lien Ha Thai Industrial Park (Thai Binh Economic Zone). The factory produces products from virgin PVC plastic, fabric products, and various types of sportswear. The total investment capital of the project is 350 billion VND, expected to officially go into production in the first quarter of 2025.

The Ammonia Production Plant Project of the Mining Chemical Industry Corporation - Vinacomin in Thai Tho Industrial Cluster (Thai Thuy district), implemented on an area of 175,610 m2, with a total investment of nearly 6,500 billion VND.

Finally, there is the ThaiBinh Seed Group's High-Quality Rice and Agricultural Products Processing Factory Project. The project has a total investment of VND 626 billion, implemented on an area of 9.5 hectares in Quynh Phu district, with a processing capacity of 50,000 tons of rice/year. It is expected to start construction in the third quarter of 2024 and be completed in 2028.

With its flexible, creative and innovative approach, Thai Binh is becoming an attractive destination for domestic and foreign investors. 2023 is the year Thai Binh witnessed an unprecedented wave of investment attraction in history. The province's FDI attraction reached more than 2.9 billion USD, nearly 4.4 times higher than in 2022.

Khanh Hoa has an industrial park project worth over 1,800 billion VND in Van Phong Economic Zone.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai has just signed a decision approving the investment policy and investor of the project to invest in construction and business of infrastructure of Doc Da Trang Industrial Park in Van Hung Commune, Van Ninh District, Khanh Hoa Province.

Accordingly, the Doc Da Trang Industrial Park Infrastructure Investment and Construction Project is invested by Viglacera Yen My Industrial Park Development Joint Stock Company, implemented on an area of 288 hectares, with a total investment of more than VND 1,800 billion, of which the investor's capital contribution is more than VND 271 billion. The operating term is 50 years, starting from March 18.

The Deputy Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment and relevant ministries and branches to be responsible for appraising the project investment policy, implementing state management of industrial zones in accordance with the Investment Law and relevant laws. The People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province is responsible for ensuring the accuracy of information, reported data, statistics, land and forest inventories, current status of land and forest use, appraisal contents in accordance with the law; responsible for the project's conformity with the planning approved by competent authorities; and receiving opinions from ministries and branches.

The Deputy Prime Minister also assigned Khanh Hoa province to update the location and area scale of Doc Da Trang Industrial Park in the provincial land use plan for the period 2021-2025; organize the establishment and approval of construction zoning plans according to regulations. At the same time, organize the construction and implementation of land recovery, compensation, site clearance, conversion of land use purposes, land lease to implement suitable projects, etc.

Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee is responsible for directing the Van Phong Economic Zone Management Board and relevant agencies to review and ensure that the project implementation area is suitable for the requirements of protecting and promoting the value of cultural heritage and the conditions prescribed by law on cultural heritage.

In addition, Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee must closely monitor the project implementation progress, the use of committed equity capital to implement the project and the investor's satisfaction of all conditions as prescribed.

The Deputy Prime Minister requested that the project investor use the owner's capital contribution as committed to implement the project, comply with the provisions of the law on land and other relevant legal provisions...

Project investors may only implement the project after meeting all conditions prescribed by law, including being permitted by competent authorities to convert the purpose of rice-growing land use; and are responsible for paying a sum of money to protect and develop rice-growing land according to regulations.

Why can't we invest in National Highway 19C and National Highway 25 in Phu Yen?

The Ministry of Transport has just issued Document No. 2796/BGTVT-KHĐT to the National Assembly Delegation of Phu Yen province regarding the response to voters' petitions sent after the 6th Session of the 15th National Assembly.

National Highway 19C is a traffic axis passing through the three mountainous districts of Dong Xuan, Son Hoa, and Song Hinh of Phu Yen province. Voters have recently proposed that it be expanded soon.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Transport received a petition from voters of Phu Yen province sent by the People's Petition Committee under Official Dispatch No. 48/BDN regarding voters' petition for the Ministry of Transport to pay attention to solutions to invest in expanding National Highway 25 from National Highway 1 to Phu Hoa town and the entire National Highway 19C.

Regarding this proposal, the Ministry of Transport said that the road network planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, was approved by the Prime Minister: National Highway 19C is about 206 km long, the section through Phu Yen province (Song Hinh, Son Hoa and Dong Xuan districts) is about 112 km long, level III-IV scale, 2-4 lanes, the current basic status is level IV; National Highway 25 is about 182 km long, the section through Phu Yen province is about 70 km long (the section from National Highway 1 to Phu Hoa town is about 11 km long from Km2+700 - Km13+500), level III scale, 2-4 lanes, the current basic status is level IV. In recent years, the Ministry of Transport has assigned the Vietnam Road Administration to regularly carry out maintenance work on the above-mentioned routes to ensure traffic safety for people and vehicles.

The Ministry of Transport also stated that, for National Highway 25, despite capital difficulties, in the 2021-2025 period, the Ministry of Transport reported to competent authorities to allocate capital to prioritize investment in about 35 km for some key sections on National Highway 25.

At the same time, in the medium-term public investment plan for the period 2021 - 2025, the Ministry of Transport has balanced about 4,905 billion VND to complete 3 projects under investment, transferred from the previous phase and start 3 new projects. For the remaining sections on National Highway 25, the Ministry of Transport has assigned research to establish projects through Phu Yen and Gia Lai provinces but has not balanced resources for implementation.

The Ministry of Transport agrees with the proposal to prioritize investment in National Highway 19C and National Highway 25 through the area according to the planning approved by the Prime Minister. However, because the medium-term public investment plan for the 2021-2025 period of the Ministry of Transport approved by the National Assembly in Resolution No. 29/2021/QH15 dated July 28, 2021 focuses on national target programs, important national projects, and strategic infrastructure projects, it is not possible to balance resources to implement other projects, including National Highway 19C and National Highway 25.

Based on the investment needs as recommended, the Ministry of Transport will continue to report and propose to competent authorities for consideration when resources are available. In the immediate future, the Ministry of Transport will assign the Vietnam Road Administration to preside over and coordinate with relevant parties and localities to strengthen inspection, maintenance and repair of the above routes to ensure safety for people and vehicles participating in traffic.

Proposal for synchronous investment plan for 4-lane Dong Dang - Tra Linh expressway

The consortium of Deo Ca Group Joint Stock Company - ICV Vietnam Investment and Construction Joint Stock Company - Deo Ca Transport Infrastructure Investment Joint Stock Company - 568 Construction Joint Stock Company has just sent Document No. 313/2024/DCG to the Management Board of Cao Bang Provincial Traffic Construction Investment Projects on the plan to synchronously invest in the entire Dong Dang - Tra Linh expressway on a complete scale using the PPP method.

Perspective of Dong Dang - Tra Linh expressway phase 1.

It is known that the consortium of Deo Ca Group Joint Stock Company - ICV Vietnam Investment and Construction Joint Stock Company - Deo Ca Transport Infrastructure Investment Joint Stock Company - 568 Construction Joint Stock Company is the investor selected to implement the Dong Dang - Tra Linh Expressway Construction Investment Project Phase 1 under the PPP method with the construction of about 93km with a scale of 2 lanes, roadbed width of 13.5m.

The completion of the Dong Dang - Tra Linh expressway according to the planning scale will include expanding the section Km0+00 - Km93+35, locations with a roadbed width of 13.5m to a scale of 4 expressway lanes with a roadbed width of 17m and arranging intermittent emergency lanes and constructing the expressway section from Km93+350 (the end point of phase 1) to Km121+060 with a length of 27.71 km also according to the scale of the roadbed width of 17m with 4 expressway lanes and arranging intermittent emergency lanes.

Currently, the Phase 1 Project is invested under the PPP BOT contract method, and is being implemented by the relevant parties on the basis of the signed Project Contract and other agreements. The project enterprise is also carrying out procedures to sign a credit contract for the Phase 1 Project with VP Bank.

"Therefore, adjusting the Phase 1 Project will require adjusting the investment capital source, which will affect the signing of the credit contract and credit disbursement for the Phase 1 Project," said the investor consortium.

On this basis, the investor proposes to continue implementing the Phase 1 Project according to the Project Contract signed between the parties. The investment to complete the entire route will be carried out by an independent project (Phase 2 Project) under the PPP method and divided into 2 component projects.

Specifically, Component Project 1 will invest in the construction and expansion of the Km0+00 - Km93+350 section with a 17m roadbed with 4 expressway lanes and an intermittent emergency lane. The total estimated investment is about VND 4,343 billion, implemented in the form of public investment from the state budget.

Component project 2 will invest in PPP to build the section Km93+350 - Km121+060 with a roadbed width of 17m with 4 expressway lanes and an intermittent emergency lane arrangement.

The total investment of Component Project 2 is about 5,608 billion VND, of which the state budget contributes 70% of the total investment (about 3,900 billion VND), the investor arranges equity capital and other capital is 30% of the total investment (about 1,708 billion VND). The payback period of Component Project 2 is 41 years and 7 months.

The consortium of investors proposed that the People's Committee of Cao Bang province report to the Government and the National Assembly to allocate additional state budget capital for Component Project 1 of VND 4,343 billion and for Component Project 2 of VND 3,900 billion (total proposed additional state budget capital is VND 8,243 billion).

Cao Bang Provincial People's Committee organized the preparation of the Project Phase 2 proposal with 2 component projects. Organized the bidding to select investors to implement Component Project 2 according to regulations.

With the current situation of the Project, difficulties in traffic volume leading to prolonged toll revenue, complex construction terrain when the investment rate is very low, it requires the cooperation of ethnic enterprises and credit institutions. Therefore, the consortium of investors recommends that the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Planning and Investment create conditions for enterprises that are also contractors investing in difficult PPP projects such as the Dong Dang - Tra Linh, Huu Nghi - Chi Lang expressways... to participate in the construction of public investment projects under the Central budget (when the investing enterprises only accumulate profits from construction, depreciation of machinery and equipment to reinvest in the projects).

In addition, the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Transport need to consider promptly removing obstacles regarding construction norms and unit prices to ensure implementation costs are close to reality, creating resources for domestic construction enterprises to survive and develop.

Previously, in Official Dispatch No. 16, the Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Transport to preside over and coordinate with relevant localities to urgently study investment plans and upgrade expressways that have been invested in phases to reach the scale of complete expressways, in accordance with design standards and transportation needs in accordance with the Prime Minister's direction in the above documents; in which, the earliest investment will be focused on expressways with a scale of 2 lanes. At the same time, review and supplement fully and synchronously the infrastructure works on the route (such as intelligent traffic systems, rest stops, etc.); report to the Prime Minister in March 2024.

Support to ensure the construction of Package A1-1 Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway

According to information from the Investment Electronic Newspaper - Baodautu.vn, the Ministry of Transport has just sent an official dispatch to the People's Committee of Long An province regarding support to ensure safety and security during the construction of Package A1-1 of the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway Project.

The Ministry of Transport said that the construction of Package A1-1 (at the intersection with Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong Expressway in Long An province) is being hindered, and the contractor cannot access the construction site.

Construction of the Eastern section of the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway Project.

Recently, the People's Committee of Long An province has directed local units to pay attention to supporting safety and security, but up to now, the situation of construction obstruction in this package is still continuing, and the level of complexity tends to increase.

“Therefore, in order to synchronously deploy items under Package A1-1 and soon complete and put into operation in accordance with the direction of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Transport requests the People's Committee of Long An province to resolutely direct local units to take measures to support and ensure safety and security for units during the construction of Package A1-1; at the same time, strictly handle violations by individuals and organizations in accordance with the provisions of law,” the official dispatch of the Ministry of Transport stated.

It is known that Package A1-1 includes the construction of the remaining part of Package A1 of the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway Project undertaken by the Joint Venture of the Ministry of National Defense's 319 Corporation - Vietnam Construction and Import-Export Joint Stock Corporation (Joint Venture 319 - Vinaconex) with a winning bid price of VND 447,222 billion, including taxes, fees and contingencies (estimated price VND 448,243 billion); contract implementation period of 10 months, fixed unit price contract, construction period starting from November 2023.

Currently, the construction of about 700m at Package A1-1 is facing difficulties due to the sand supplier for a contractor of the old Package A1 obstructing the construction.

The Ben Luc – Long Thanh Expressway Project is a national key project managed by the Ministry of Transport and invested by the Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC). The project has been approved by the Prime Minister for investment policy adjustment in Decision No. 791/QD-TTg dated July 3, 2023 with the completion date adjusted to September 30, 2025.

VEC is urgently directing contractors to speed up construction progress and coordinate with relevant agencies to handle problems to open the technical traffic of the Eastern main route in 2024; open the entire Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway to traffic by the end of 2025.

Tra Vinh: Approved investment policy for petroleum and petrochemical warehouse, capital of 576 billion VND

Vice Chairman of Tra Vinh Provincial People's Committee, Mr. Nguyen Quynh Thien has just signed and issued Decision No. 365/QD-UBND approving the investment policy and investor for Tra Vinh Energy and Petrochemical Joint Stock Company to implement the Petroleum and Petrochemical Depot Project.

The project has a land and water surface area of about 46.33 hectares; of which, the land area is about 23.33 hectares, the water surface area (Hau River) is about 23 hectares.

The design capacity of the Project is: Construction of a petroleum and petrochemical warehouse with a total capacity of 50,000 m3, including a tank cluster with a capacity of 40,000 m3 and a tank cluster with a capacity of 10,000 m3; warehouse for petrochemicals, packaged products, and bales (solid products).

Construction of specialized wharfs capable of receiving ships with a capacity of 20,000 tons, including: 1 wharf for receiving liquid cargo (210 m long) with an expected throughput of 0.80 ÷ 1.10 million tons/year; 1 wharf for receiving general cargo (300 m long) with an expected throughput of 0.60 ÷ 0.80 million tons/year.

This is a grade I industrial project; a grade II seaport project.

The project has an investment capital of nearly 576 billion VND. The project's operating period is 50 years.

Regarding the project implementation progress, from June 2024 to May 2026, construction and equipment installation will be carried out; from June 2026 to September 2026, oil spill response plans will be developed, risk assessment will be conducted, and petroleum and petrochemical warehouses will be accepted. By November 2026, port security plans will be developed, port acceptance and announcement will be made, and commercial operations will be carried out.

Inauguration of 1,443 billion VND industrial factory in Thanh Hoa

On March 20, at Bim Son Industrial Park, Bim Son town, Thanh Hoa province, SAB Vietnam Industrial Co., Ltd., a member of Weixing Group, held the inauguration ceremony of SAB Vietnam Industrial Factory.

Delegates pressed the button to inaugurate the SAB Vietnam Industrial Factory.

SAB Vietnam Industrial Factory started construction in July 2022. The factory has an area of 66.44 hectares, with a total investment of about 62 million USD, equivalent to 1,443.220 billion VND. The factory specializes in manufacturing clothing accessories such as metal zippers, plastic zippers, nylon zippers, plastic buttons, metal buttons, etc.

Once operational, the SAB Vietnam Industrial Plant will create jobs for more than 1,000 skilled workers, with an estimated output of about 100 million USD/year.

Speaking at the ceremony, Permanent Vice Chairman of Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van Thi emphasized that the SAB Vietnam Industrial Factory, once operational, will contribute hundreds of billions of VND to the state budget each year, contributing to promoting socio-economic development and creating jobs for local workers. At the same time, the project contributes to the development of the garment industry's supporting industry, reducing the garment industry's dependence on accessories that have long been imported from abroad.

Vice Chairman Nguyen Van Thi affirmed that Thanh Hoa province will always accompany investors to resolve difficulties and obstacles, creating favorable conditions for the factory to operate and promote efficiency.

To ensure the smooth operation of the factory, Mr. Nguyen Van Thi requested the Management Board of Nghi Son Economic Zone and the provincial Industrial Parks to actively coordinate with the infrastructure investor of Zone A - Bim Son Industrial Park to promptly resolve issues of electricity supply, water supply, and technical infrastructure for the SAB Vietnam Industrial Factory; support and accompany the investor during the operation of the factory.

On the investor side, Mr. Cai Liyong, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SAB Vietnam Industrial Company Limited affirmed that in the production and business process of the company and SAB Vietnam Industrial Factory, they will comply with the laws and regulations of Vietnam. Implementing the corporate spirit of "Solidarity, Effort, Practicality, Creativity" to produce and do business effectively, creating high-quality products in Vietnam. Thereby, not only contributing to the development goals of Weixing Group, but also creating momentum for the socio-economic development of Bim Son town in particular, Thanh Hoa province in general.

Urgently add items to ensure safety on Cam Lo - La Son highway

The Ho Chi Minh Road Project Management Board (Ministry of Transport), the unit assigned as the investor of the Cam Lo - La Son expressway, said that the construction teams are still focusing on completing additional infrastructure adjustments to ensure traffic safety on the Cam Lo - La Son expressway.

The presence of many heavy vehicles "crawling" on the Cam Lo - La Son route is one of the reasons why many drivers recklessly overtake, causing the risk of traffic accidents.

Accordingly, the adjustment and addition of items include: Reflective studs at the center of the road at the position of 2 lanes, reflective studs on both sides of the guardrail, adding soft markers on both sides of the median strip, adjusting the paint of the center line of the road... According to the leader of the Ho Chi Minh Road Project Management Board, these items are expected to be completed this week.

According to the leader of the Ho Chi Minh Road Project Management Board, the safety warning signs will be constructed later because they have to wait for production orders. However, the installation of these signs will certainly be done no later than this March.

Regarding the emergency lane, the Ho Chi Minh Road Project Management Board is currently working with relevant agencies to conduct a survey and then start construction.

"If the weather is favorable, it will be completed in March this year, or at the latest in early April. It is expected that the additional investment in infrastructure items to ensure traffic safety on the Cam Lo - La Son expressway will be about more than 20 billion VND," added a representative of the Ho Chi Minh Road Project Management Board.

Previously, on March 16, the National Assembly's supervision delegation on the topic "Implementation of Resolution No. 43/2022/QH15 dated January 11, 2022 of the National Assembly on fiscal and monetary policies to support the Socio-economic Recovery and Development Program and Resolutions of the National Assembly on a number of important national projects until the end of 2023" had a meeting to inspect and work with localities on the implementation status of the Ho Chi Minh Road project, Cam Lo - La Son and La Son - Tuy Loan sections.

At the meeting, Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Danh Huy said that the Cam Lo - La Son section investment project belongs to the project to invest in building some expressway sections on the North - South Eastern route in the period of 2017 - 2020, which was decided by the National Assembly on investment policy.

The main causes of recent accidents are often due to driver error, such as: encroaching on lanes, overtaking without observing; not keeping a safe distance as instructed by the road signal system on the route. In addition, accidents also occur because the scale of the new road has only 2 lanes and has not yet collected tolls, so vehicles (especially trucks and passenger cars) all use this route instead of the route on National Highway 1 to avoid toll stations, leading to overloading; the speed of heavy vehicles only reaches 30-35 km/h, causing congestion for the vehicles behind, leading to the risk of reckless overtaking...

According to Mr. Huy, the Ministry of Transport has directed the adjustment and reorganization of the road sign system to suit the actual traffic situation (additional signs; adjustment of road centerline paint lines from solid to dashed lines for straight sections, ensuring visibility...). Organize vehicle counting to divide traffic flows to suit the actual traffic volume and nature; regulate and divide certain types of vehicles along National Highway 1 to avoid overloading the route's 2-lane scale.

In the long term, the Ministry of Transport assigned the Ho Chi Minh Road Project Management Board to prepare a pre-feasibility study report for the North-South Expressway expansion investment project in the East, Cam Lo - La Son section, using the capital source from the increased central budget revenue in 2023 and other legal capital sources.

At the same time, due to the complicated traffic situation on the route, the Ministry recommends that it be allowed to implement it in the form of an urgent public investment project as prescribed in the Law on Public Investment (the procedures for implementing construction works according to the provisions of the law on construction for construction works under emergency orders) to be completed in 2025. In the second quarter of 2024, the Ministry of Transport issued the National Technical Regulations on expressways, and there will basically be no more 2-lane expressways.

The Ministry of Transport also proposed that the Government and the National Assembly prioritize the allocation of capital to increase the central budget revenue in 2023 and other legal capital sources to invest in expanding the expressways currently in operation and investing in a 2-lane phased scale. Of which, the Cam Lo - La Son expressway has a total investment of about 7,000 billion VND.

Also at this working session, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai directed that the Cam Lo - La Son expressway has recently had many serious traffic accidents, and requested the Ministry of Transport to study a plan to ensure safety for people and vehicles traveling on this route.

Thanh Hoa strengthens administrative reform and improves investment environment

Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee said it has just decided to strengthen the Steering Committee to promote administrative reform, strongly improve the investment and business environment, and enhance the province's competitiveness.

Thanh Hoa is a locality with many achievements in administrative reform and improving the investment environment.

Accordingly, the Head of the Steering Committee is the Chairman of Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee; Deputy Heads of the Steering Committee include the Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee (Standing Deputy Head), Director of the Department of Home Affairs, Director of the Department of Planning and Investment, Head of the Management Board of Nghi Son Economic Zone and industrial parks of the province.

The Steering Committee members include directors of departments and branches under the Provincial People's Committee; directors of the Thanh Hoa State Treasury, the Provincial Social Insurance, the Thanh Hoa Business Association, the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry in Thanh Hoa; Directors of the Thanh Hoa Tax Department and the Thanh Hoa Customs Department; Deputy Director of the Department of Home Affairs in charge of administrative reform.

In which, the standing agency for promoting administrative reform is the Department of Home Affairs; the standing agency for strongly improving the business investment environment and enhancing the competitiveness of Thanh Hoa province is the Department of Planning and Investment.

Chairman of Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee Do Minh Tuan said that the Steering Committee's task is to improve the Public Administration Reform Index (PAR INDEX), Satisfaction Index (SIPAS), and Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI).

Assist the Provincial People's Committee and the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee in directing, guiding, inspecting and urging provincial departments, branches, sectors and units; People's Committees of districts, towns and cities; People's Committees of communes, wards and towns in the province to effectively implement tasks and solutions to promote administrative reform, in order to improve the Administrative Reform Index, Satisfaction Index, and Provincial Public Administration and Governance Performance Index.

Research and propose to the Provincial People's Committee and the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee important policies and solutions to improve the Administrative Reform Index, Satisfaction Index, Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index; direct the development and replication of models and initiatives in administrative reform work...

Assist the Provincial People's Committee and the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee in directing, guiding, inspecting and urging provincial departments, branches and units; People's Committees of districts, towns and cities; People's Committees of communes, wards and towns in the province in organizing the implementation of tasks and solutions to strongly improve the investment and business environment, improve the Thanh Hoa Provincial Competitiveness Index; promptly remove difficulties and obstacles in the implementation process.

Acting as the focal point to assist the Provincial People's Committee and the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee in directing the development and implementation of specific goals and targets to improve and enhance the Thanh Hoa Provincial Competitiveness Index.

Periodically or upon request, report to the Provincial People's Committee and the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee on the implementation of tasks and solutions to improve the investment and business environment, enhance the Thanh Hoa Provincial Competitiveness Index...

It is known that in recent times, Thanh Hoa has implemented many solutions on administrative reform, promoted the improvement of the investment and business environment and enhanced the provincial competitiveness index. Accordingly, Thanh Hoa is always in the top group of the country in terms of Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index, People's Satisfaction Index for State Administrative Services, Administrative Reform Index... Thanh Hoa is one of the first localities in the country to connect and integrate the Provincial Public Service Portal with the National Public Service Portal, serving people and businesses to submit documents anytime, anywhere.

Regarding solutions to improve the investment and business environment, Thanh Hoa always creates favorable conditions for investors to implement projects and develop production and business in the area. Every month, the Chairman of Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee often organizes conferences to meet, discuss, resolve and remove difficulties and obstacles in investment and business activities of enterprises. At the same time, direct the Chairmen of the People's Committees of districts, towns and cities to arrange at least 1 day a month to organize meetings and resolve difficulties and obstacles for enterprises.

In addition, Thanh Hoa province also focuses on solutions to simplify and reduce the time to process administrative procedures for investment approval, contributing to increasing the attraction for businesses and large projects. Accordingly, many administrative procedures have reduced processing time compared to regulations, reducing time costs for investors such as: Time to process investment approval procedures; granting business registration certificates; granting planning licenses, granting construction licenses; land allocation, land lease; appraisal and approval of environmental impact assessment reports...

Thanks to the implementation of many of the above solutions, the investment attraction situation in Thanh Hoa province has achieved many outstanding results. Up to now, Thanh Hoa province has attracted more than 2,300 investment projects, with a total registered investment capital of about 650 trillion VND.

Of these, there are about 149 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects, with a total registered investment capital of more than 14.6 billion USD. The projects put into operation have become the main driving force to put the economic scale of Thanh Hoa province in the top 10 of the country.

Proposal to appraise the Hoang Lien Pass tunnel project worth 3,300 billion VND

The Lai Chau Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board has just submitted a document requesting the Ministry of Transport to review and appraise the Feasibility Study Report on the investment in the construction of the Hoang Lien Pass Tunnel Project connecting Sa Pa town, Lao Cai province with Tam Duong district, Lai Chau province.

This is a project whose investment is decided by the People's Committee of Lai Chau province; the Lai Chau Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board plays the role of investor.

Perspective of Hoang Lien road tunnel.

According to the proposal of the investor, the Hoang Lien Pass Tunnel Project has its starting point at Km78, National Highway 4D in Son Binh Commune, Tam Duong District, Lai Chau Province; the end point connects to Road D1 (according to the planning of Sa Pa Town) in O Quy Ho Ward, Lao Cai Province.

The total length of the route of the Project is 8.8 km, of which 2.63 km is a road tunnel with 4.576 km in Lai Chau province and 4.244 km in Lao Cai province. The road part of the Project is invested with a level III mountainous scale, the roadbed is 10m wide, the design speed is 60 km/h; the tunnel project consists of 2 tunnels about 30 m apart, each tunnel is 2.63 km long, designed according to Japanese mountain tunnel standards, combined with TCVN 4528:1988.

It is estimated that the land use area for the Hoang Lien Pass Tunnel Project is about 70.41 hectares, of which 42.26 hectares are in Lai Chau province and 28.15 hectares are in Lao Cai province.

With the above investment scale, the Project will have a total investment of 3,300 billion VND, of which the construction cost is 2,168.284 billion VND, expected to be mobilized from the central budget (2,500 billion VND) and local budget.

Lai Chau Transport Construction Investment Project Management Board said that the Hoang Lien Pass Tunnel Project will be implemented in the period of 2023 - 2026.

Upon completion, the Hoang Lien Pass Tunnel Investment Project connecting Sa Pa Town, Lao Cai Province with Tam Duong District, Lai Chau Province will replace approximately 17 km of steep and winding mountain passes; shorten the time to cross Hoang Lien Pass from 30 minutes to 8 minutes, and resolve the problem of landslides that cause prolonged traffic congestion during the rainy season.

Quang Binh urges progress of site clearance for 500 KV power line project

On March 21, the People's Committee of Quang Binh province had a working session with the delegation of the Office of the State Steering Committee for important national programs, works and projects, key to the energy sector on the handover of the corridor and construction of projects belonging to the 500 kV line circuit 3 in the province; difficulties, obstacles and implementation solutions.

The 500 kV Quang Trach-Quynh Luu transmission line project in Quang Binh province is 2.987 km long, including 10 foundation locations (in Quang Dong commune, Quang Trach district). Of which, the starting point is located in the 500 kV distribution yard of Quang Trach Power Center and location No. 10 borders Ha Tinh province.

To implement the project, the Prime Minister agreed in principle to change the forest use purpose for 38.5952 hectares of natural forest. Of which, the forest area in Quang Binh province is 0.2657 hectares. Regarding production forests, the People's Council of Quang Binh province has passed a resolution approving the change of forest use purpose for 2.259 hectares of planted forests and the investor has fulfilled the obligation to pay for replacement forest planting for natural and planted forests.

According to the report of Quang Trach District People's Committee, up to now, Quang Trach District has also handed over the construction site of 9/10 pier foundation positions to the investor. Units and localities within the scope of the 500kV transmission line project are urgently carrying out procedures and resettlement work for people to quickly complete the handover of the site to the construction unit.

At the meeting, Mr. Hoang Trong Hieu, Deputy Chief of Office of the State Steering Committee for important national programs, works and projects, key energy sector, Head of the working delegation, assessed that the active coordination of departments, branches, and localities of Quang Binh province has supported the project investor to promptly resolve problems arising on the route. Thanks to that, the progress of site handover in Quang Binh province is very good.

Mr. Hoang Trong Hieu requested Quang Binh province to continue to pay attention to directing the resolution of problems related to site clearance at the foundation locations and along the route. At the same time, Quang Trach district should promptly complete the compensation and site clearance plan, and mobilize households to hand over the site along the route corridor in March 2024 for the investor to implement the project.

Speaking to the working delegation, Vice Chairman of Quang Binh Provincial People's Committee Phan Phong Phu emphasized that in recent times, Quang Binh province has resolutely directed relevant departments, branches, units and localities to participate and accompany the investor in the process of implementing the Quang Trach - Quynh Luu 500 kV transmission line project. Thanks to that, the progress of site clearance is taking place quickly. Up to now, the locality has handed over the pier foundation locations for construction, and 20/24 affected households have agreed with the compensation and site clearance plan.

The Vice Chairman of the Quang Binh Provincial People's Committee also requested the Project Management Board to closely coordinate with the locality in handling problems and carrying out legal procedures related to the project, ensuring compliance with legal regulations.

Prioritize the allocation of funds to pay compensation and support to affected households who have agreed to the compensation plan. Regarding the measurement records, they must be completed before March 23 so that Quang Trach district has a basis to carry out related procedures and complete the handover of the route corridor in March 2024...

Regarding resettlement work, Vice Chairman of Quang Binh Provincial People's Committee Phan Phong Phu requested relevant departments and branches to shorten the time for reviewing procedures, creating conditions for Quang Trach district to speed up the construction of resettlement areas to soon relocate households whose houses are affected along the route to new residences.

It is known that the 500 kV Quang Trach - Quynh Luu Transmission Line project (part of the 500 kV Transmission Line 3-circuit project from Quang Trach to Pho Noi - Hai Duong) has a length of about 225.5 km with the starting point being the 500 kV distribution yard of Quang Trach Power Center (Quang Binh province) and the end point being location D1 located about 300m from the 500kV Quynh Luu Substation (Nghe An).

The project has a total investment of about 10,110,915 billion VND, passing through the provinces of Quang Binh, Ha Tinh, Nghe An, of which the section through Quang Binh is 2,987 km long.

Consider ending the National Highway 9 Upgrade and Expansion Project in Quang Tri

The project to upgrade and expand National Highway 9, from Cua Viet Port to National Highway 1 (Quang Tri Province) is being considered for termination by the competent authority. This means that the land clearance project undertaken by Quang Tri Province must also be stopped.

The project to upgrade and expand National Highway 9, from Cua Viet Port to National Highway 1, uses surplus capital from the Vietnam Road Asset Management Project (VRAMP) with loans from the World Bank (WB). The project was approved by the Prime Minister in August 2021. In November 2021, the project was approved for investment by the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and assigned the General Department of Roads (now the Vietnam Road Administration) as the investor.

Accordingly, the project is 13.8 km long, starting from Cua Viet port (Cua Viet town, Gio Linh district), ending at the intersection of National Highway 1, Song crossroads (Thanh An commune, Cam Lo district); scale of grade II road, 4 lanes; total roadbed width of 28 m, excluding sidewalks. The total investment of the project is 19.05 million USD (equivalent to 440.37 billion VND), implementation period 2021 - 2022. The project officially broke ground in March 2022, expected to be completed by the end of 2022.

The Quang Tri Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board said that the Project to Upgrade and Expand National Highway 9, from Cua Viet Port to National Highway 1, is identified as a key project of the province. Therefore, the Quang Tri Provincial People's Council has approved the investment policy for the Land Clearance Project specifically for the Project to Upgrade and Expand National Highway 9, from Cua Viet Port to National Highway 1, with a total investment of 75 billion VND from the local budget, which was later adjusted to increase to 345.55 billion VND.

During the implementation process, the GPMB Project has handed over 4.55/13.8 km and 6 bridges on the route to the investor. The remaining 9.25 km has not been handed over, including 2.5 km for which the compensation and support plan has been approved by the localities, but has not been paid to the people because during this time (from October 2022 to December 2022), the contractor has not implemented the construction due to the impact of floods and the WB has not yet commented on allowing an extension of the loan agreement.

By January 12, 2023, the WB had an official opinion on not extending the loan agreement, which means that the Project to Upgrade and Expand National Highway 9, from Cua Viet Port to National Highway 1, must stop, as construction items are still unfinished.

The Vietnam Road Administration said that it will study and report to the Ministry of Transport and competent authorities on the plan to use other capital sources and adjust the investment policy to continue to complete the project. In the meantime, the Vietnam Road Administration requested the People's Committee of Quang Tri province to direct relevant agencies to agree on a plan to temporarily receive the unfinished land area while the project awaits capital restructuring and investment policy adjustment. Temporarily hand over the existing section of the National Highway 9 project for management and operation.

By the end of 2023, Quang Tri province had worked with the Ministry of Transport on capital allocation to continue implementing the Project to Upgrade and Expand National Highway 9, from Cua Viet Port to National Highway 1. However, due to low budget revenue in Quang Tri province and lack of funds for the province to continue site clearance, the Ministry of Transport found that using budget capital instead of WB loans to complete the project in the 2021-2025 period was not feasible.

The Ministry of Transport has requested Quang Tri province to report on difficulties in capital and land acquisition time to report to competent authorities to consider stopping the project; at the same time, study and establish an investment project to complete this section of the route in the medium term of 2026 - 2030.

According to the Quang Tri Province Construction Investment Project Management Board, up to the time of stopping the site clearance work, the total approved compensation and support plan cost was 10,045 billion VND, of which 6.18 billion VND had been paid and 3.86 billion VND had not been paid.

In December 2023, the Quang Tri Provincial Construction Investment Project Management Board sent a document to the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee, requesting the Provincial People's Committee to allow the settlement of the GPMB Project to complete the project.

Regarding the remaining capital of 288.43 billion VND of the GPMB Project, the Quang Tri Provincial Construction Investment Project Management Board proposed to transfer it to 2 other projects: the Coastal Road Project connecting the East-West Economic Corridor, Phase I and the Quang Tri Airport Project.

Vice Chairman of Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee, Mr. Le Duc Tien, said that the competent authority is currently considering ending the Project to Upgrade and Expand National Highway 9, from Cua Viet Port to National Highway 1. The termination of the project will be decided by the Ministry of Transport (investor) and reported to the Prime Minister.

On the side of Quang Tri province, the implementation of the Land Acquisition and Clearance Project was separated into a separate project and used the provincial budget, so when the Project to Upgrade and Expand National Highway 9, the section from Cua Viet Port to National Highway 1 ended, the Land Acquisition and Clearance Project also stopped.

Groundbreaking ceremony for the 2,000 billion VND railway renovation project in Quang Binh

On the morning of March 22, in Tuyen Hoa district, Quang Binh province, the launching ceremony of the Khe Net Pass Railway Renovation Project, part of the Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City Railway, took place.

Attending the ceremony were leaders of the Ministry of Transport; leaders of Quang Binh province; leaders of Vietnam Railways Corporation; representatives of the Korean Embassy in Vietnam, representatives of the Korean Economic Development Cooperation Fund in Vietnam (EDCF)...

The Khe Net Pass Railway Renovation Project, part of the Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City Railway, is the first railway project in Vietnam to be implemented with ODA loans from the Korean Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) and counterpart funds from the Vietnamese Government, with a total investment of more than VND2,000 billion.

At the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Danh Huy emphasized that the quality of railway infrastructure is not yet uniform, capacity is limited, and there is a potential risk of traffic safety; therefore, the transport market share is increasingly decreasing, not commensurate with the advantages. In this situation, in the period of 2016 - 2020, the National Assembly and the Government have allocated about 7,000 billion VND to invest in important and urgent railway projects, creating a major change for the railway industry in 2023.

However, on the North-South railway line, there are still some bottlenecks such as the Hoa Duyet - Thanh Luyen section; Khe Net pass area, Hai Van pass...

"In recent times, the Ministry of Transport has coordinated with other ministries and sectors, actively worked with sponsors, directly the Korean Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) to mobilize resources to invest in railway infrastructure upgrading projects. Up to now, the two projects of Hoa Duyet - Thanh Luyen section renovation and Khe Net pass railway renovation have completed investment procedures. The completion of these projects will contribute to improving the capacity of the unified railway line in the Vinh - Dong Hoi section", Deputy Minister Nguyen Danh Huy emphasized.

For his part, Mr. Jin Saeun, Chief Representative of the Korean Economic Development and Cooperation Fund (EDCF) in Vietnam, said that through the Cooperation Fund, the Korean Government provided an ODA loan worth 78 million USD to finance the project to improve the existing North-South railway line by increasing speed and operating capacity.

"The Khe Net Pass Railway Improvement Project is EDCF's first project in the railway sector in Vietnam. This project is expected to strengthen the cooperation in the railway sector between the Vietnamese Government and the Korean Government; contribute to the transfer of advanced Korean technology in the railway sector as well as strengthen the economic relationship between the two Governments," Mr. Jin Saeun shared.

It is known that the Khe Net Pass Railway Improvement Project consists of 2 packages, with package XL01 constructing 2 railway tunnels, total length 935 m, implementation time 23 months by the joint venture of Ilsung Company - Deo Ca Group. Of which, tunnel 1 is 620 m long, tunnel 2 is 393 m long, tunnel gauge 10 m, designed according to the standards of level I railway tunnels.

Package XL02 construction of bridges, railways, signal information and other works is carried out by the joint venture Ilsung - Railway Construction Corporation (RCC), construction period is 22 months.

The total length of the route is 6,819 m, of which 4,564 m is newly built and 2,255 m is renovated. The main project includes 2 tunnels, 3 bridges and 1 train station.

Upon completion, the project will improve railway infrastructure, increase speed, shorten train journeys on the Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City railway line in the coming years, ensure smooth, orderly, safe railway traffic operations, and improve the capacity and quality of transport services.

The Khe Net Pass railway renovation project is expected to be completed in December 2025.

Also at the ceremony, on behalf of the contractors, Mr. Ngo Truong Nam, General Director of Deo Ca Group, said that the company's price reduction to win the bid came from its experience in doing specialized projects such as road tunnels, summarizing lessons learned in project management, applying improved excavation methods, and controlling materials, supplies, and labor well, etc., contributing to saving the state budget.

This is also a proactive step to improve capacity and experience to prepare for the development of Vietnam's railways and metro as set out in the development plan of the transport sector.

"Deo Ca Group will consider this project as a "training ground" to implement training work. Workers will be trained to improve their skills, engineers will be able to practice and apply technology, and managers will have more management capacity. Thereby, we will continue to study and learn railway models around the world to be ready to integrate when developing the railway and metro networks that are planned in the near future," said Mr. Nam.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/de-xuat-tham-dinh-ham-duong-bo-3300-ty-dong-khoi-cong-du-an-cai-tao-duong-sat-hon-2000-ty-dong-d211346.html