Vietnam, Japan sign seaport study deal
HANOI - The Vietnam government signed an agreement on March 18 with Japan for a detailed design study for a port in the southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province.
The agreement for the study of the Cai Mep-Thi Vai International Terminals was signed by the ministries of transport and planning and investment and the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) in Ha Noi.
The transport ministry said it would be carried out from July this year to October 2005, while JICA promised technological support and a non-refundable aid of US$7 million for the purpose.
Construction of the port's first phase is expected to start in 2006 and finish in 2009 at a total cost of VND4.7 trillion (US$295.6 million), of which 85 percent will be lent by Japan.
The ministry said the port would be designed to receive ships of 50,000-80,000 dead weight tons (DWT) and handle 1.1 million twenty-foot-equivalent-units (TEUs) per year by 2010 and 3.3 million TEUs by 2020.
It is expected to play an important role in the key economic area of south Vietnam and become the biggest port in Vietnam in 10 years.
The project is one of those proposed under the Japan-Vietnam Partnership Initiative, which is expected to contribute to improving Vietnam's investment environment.
Asia Times - March 23, 2004.
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