Southwestern region looks to upgrade transport infrastructure

Delegates at a conference in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on August 22 emphasized the need to roll out a specific mechanism in order to mobilize resources in developing transport infrastructure and logistics services in the southwestern region for 2016-2020.

Speaking at the event, held by the Ministry of Construction in conjunction with the Steering Committee for the Southwestern Region, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue highlighted regional infrastructure connectivity.

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue (C) speaking at the conference. (Source: baochinhphu.vn)

Key projects linking regional provinces together and the Mekong Delta with others should be carried out, he said, citing a range of bridges like Can Tho, Ham Luong, Rach Mieu and Co Chien that have helped serve this purpose.

Deputy PM Hue, who is also head of the committee, said the loose regional connectivity has affected the socio-economic targets of localities, explaining that poor transport infrastructure has hindered production and product consumption in the region.

Despite its huge waterway potential, the region has injected just 11 percent of its total investments into waterway routes, compared with up to 90 percent of the sum poured into roads, the Deputy PM pointed out.

He requested the Ministries of Transport, Planning and Investment, and Finance to coordinate with localities to add transport projects to the regional public investment plan for 2016-2020.

Nguyen Huu Tri, Deputy Minister of the Finance Ministry, suggested relevant ministries, agencies and localities should focus resources on the most pressing projects like the Can Tho-Trung Luong Highway.

Echoing Tri’s view, Nguyen Van The, Secretary of the Soc Trang provincial Party Committee, said Dai Nghia Bridge linking Soc Trang with Tra Vinh province should also be prioritized.

He suggested the establishment of a big seaport in Soc Trang to help ease overload in Cai Cui Port in Can Tho city.

According to Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai, Can Tho has been selected to be a sub-region for logistics of the Mekong Delta.

A logistics centre, second class, is expected to be formed at Cai Cui Port to serve Can Tho, Tra Vinh, Hau Giang, Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang and An Giang provinces, he said.

Nearly 80 transport projects valued at over VND 104.6 trillion (USD 4.7 billion) are expected to be carried out in the southwestern region in the next five years.