PM Nguyen Tan Dung on Saturday praised the Vietnam Highway Investment and Development Corporation (VEC), Ministry of Transport, relevant agencies and localities involved in the project for finalizing procedures in a short period so that the first tender package could be implemented speedily.

Dung also spoke highly of donors’ support, particularly the Asian Development Bank (ADB), a major sponsor of the project that has pioneered the Greater Mekong Sub-region Economic Cooperation Program (GMS Program).

Once completed, the project will give fresh impetus to the socio-economic development of both the immediate localities involved and the country as a whole, he said.

It will also play a key role in furthering the process of industrialization and modernization, he added.

He asked VEC and the Ministry of Transport to finalize all related works such as land clearance and resettlement so that the bidding can begin on the remaining seven tender packages next month.

The PM also asked the corporation to apply advanced technology in managing and using loans, effectively co-ordinate with consultants, supervisors and contractors to overcome difficulties, and ensure progress and quality of the project to avoid wastefulness.

The VND20-trillion (US$1.13 billion) Noi Bai-Lao Cai highway is said to be the shortest road route from China’s Southwest to the East Sea, connecting inland ASEAN and reducing travel pressure on existing routes (National Highways 70 and 4E).

VEC is the project’s investor and Posco Engineering & Construction (Republic of Korea) is its contractor.

Source: VNA