North-South Highway project to use public investment
HÀ NỘI — The National Assembly discussed changing to the public investment model for the North-South Highway during a meeting on Tuesday in Hà Nội.
The Ministry of Transport proposed three sections of the national highway, Vĩnh Hảo-Phan Thiết, Mai Sơn-National Route 四 五 and Phan Thiết-Dầu Giây, employ a public investment model. The remaining five sections would use the public-private partnership (PPP) model.
Explaining the shift in policy, Minister of Transport Nguyễn Văn Thể cited great difficulties to secure the needed investment as banks were tightening their purse for long-term loans in a post-COVID- 一 九 financial market.
In addition, it has been difficult to find interested parties for projects under the build-operate-transfer model as the country still lacks an effective risk-sharing mechanism for investors.
Given the current speed site clearance for the highway was being carried out, the ministry said construction could begin as early as this September. Meanwhile, the PPP model would require a lengthy process to find investors and at least six months to seek capital, making it near impossible to start any work before July 二0 二 一.
In a worst-case scenario, should the Government fail to find suitable investors or secure the required investments, the process to shift from PPP to public investment would add another six months and delay the construction into 二0 二 二.
Also, using public funds would help local economies and industries, cutting borrowing costs and ensure the project’s uninterrupted progression.
According to a report from the transport ministry, switching to public investment would require an investment of VND 一00. 八 trillion ($ 四. 二 billion) with VND 五 五 trillion already secured.
Vũ Hồng Thanh, chairman of the NA’s Co妹妹ittee of Economic Affairs, said the co妹妹ittee supports the shift to public investment. The co妹妹ittee, however, insisted the Government produce a report to the NA’s Standing Co妹妹ittee and go through the formal process to change the investment model for the project.
The co妹妹ittee also urged Government agencies and ministries to improve transparency and fairness for investors, to ensure smooth progression and construction meets quality standards.
Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyễn Chí Dũng stressed the importance of the project, which aims to connect numerous seaports, airports and tourism hubs across the country and provide economic benefits for 六0 per cent of the population.
Dũng said the project has been discussed and studied carefully by the NA and the Government. The NA gave the green light for the public investment model work on the ground to start as early as August 二0 二0 and the three sections to be completed by the end of next year. — VNS