At the meeting, Mr. Vo Van Minh said that Japan is currently the second largest investor in Binh Duong, with 350 enterprises and investment capital of nearly 6 billion USD. Binh Duong is located in the Southern Key Economic Region, bordering Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai; currently, the province is focusing on developing high-tech industry, healthcare, and quality education in the Southern localities of the province. At the same time, building new urban areas and developing industrial parks (IPs) in the Northern localities. In the development of transport infrastructure, the province is implementing key roads such as Ring Road 3, Ring Road 4, Ho Chi Minh City – Thu Dau Mot – Chon Thanh Expressway will be deployed in 2023 and completed after 3 years. When these transport projects are formed, they will promote the development of IPs very quickly.
Overview of the reception and meeting
For the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project connecting Binh Duong New City to Suoi Tien (Ho Chi Minh City) is one of the key traffic routes of Binh Duong province. Accelerating this project will create new urban development space for the province. He hoped that JICA would advise and support the province in the technical survey of these projects so that the province could soon take the next steps.
Chairman of the PPC Vo Van Minh and Mr. Hayakawa Yuho discuss the contents at the meeting
The Chairman of the PPC also shared that the province is currently planning to build a railway line to coincide with the Trans-Asian railway from the center of Binh Duong to Cu Chi, Ho Chi Minh City. First, Binh Duong will build a 41 km railway line from the Northern area of the province (bordering Binh Phuoc province) to Song Than station, Di An city. The Ministry of Transport has also developed a plan to deploy a railway line from Song Than station to Cai Mep and Long Thanh airport. Therefore, Binh Duong highly appreciates the feasibility of this route, because it connects the region from the Central Highlands provinces, across the localities from the North to the South of the province, especially through IPs. Currently, the province is hiring a design consultant, as well as looking for a public-private investment partner to develop railway projects.
Chairman of the PPC Vo Van Minh introduces to JICA about Binh Duong's transport network
Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Hayakawa Yuho was impressed with the province's smart city development orientation. JICA is very honored for the cooperation with the province in the past time. For the Ring Road 3 project, he hoped the province would continue to support the completion of the procedures so that the two sides could sign the exchange note and loan agreement to implement the project in early 2023. For the Suoi Tien - Binh Duong urban railway project and the Song Than - Cai Mep freight railway, JICA highly appreciated the information shared from the provincial leaders. However, for railway projects to achieve long-term goals, both sides need time and careful preparation. He expected Binh Duong to develop a detailed and specific plan so that the two sides could cooperate.
Thanks to JICA's support in the projects of the province in the past years and in the coming years, Mr. Vo Van Minh promised to speed up the legal procedures so that the loan agreements of the two sides can be implemented soon, as well as add detailed plans so that JICA and Binh Duong could cooperate in railway projects.
Delegates take a souvenir photo
Reported by Thao Lam- Translated by Thanh Tam