by Trinh Anh Duc
28-2-2001
Three suspension bridges in Tra My completed
Quang Nam province held a ceremony yesterday to put into operation three suspension bridges in Tra My district. Attending the event were Australian ambassador to Vietnam Michael Mann and Mr Nguyen Xuan Phuc, vice chairman of the provincial People's Committee. Australia granted VND 3.4 billion (US$1=14,580 VND) to build these bridges including Tra Doc, Tra Don and Tra Tap, helping improve infrastructure in the area for people's easy travelling. The construction of the bridges is part of a project on developing infrastructure in Tra My district sponsored by Australia with total money of VND 15.7 billion.
Biggest suspension bridge completed
The construction of the Binh Thanh suspension bridge in Huong Tra district, Thua Thien-Hue central province was completed after seven months. With a length of 140 metres and a width of four metres, the bridge has a loading capacity of about 18 tonnes. This is the biggest suspension bridge in Vietnam, with a total investment capital of more than VND 5 billion.
US$ 166 million from World Bank’ for HCMC’s environment project
The World Bank has agreed to provide the municipality of HCM City with a US$166 million loan to carry out an environment project in the city. The 30-year loan, which funds 83 per cent of the capital needed for a project to establish a steady flow of water from a catchment area covering several ' inner-city districts, has a 10year grace period. The project is expected to begin in mid-2002.
US $1.8 billion for rural and mountainous areas
The government's Development Support Fund will raise VND 25,000 billion (US $1.8 billion) for development credit to benefit rural and mountainous areas in 2001. The fund is providing loans to 3,213 projects with a combined capital of VND 58,630 billion (US $4.2 billion). In 2000, the fund's debt balance posted a year-on-year increase of 52.6% to VND 9,400 billion (US $671 million), and its disbursement rate, 81.4%- the highest rate since 1994. The fund invested in infrastructure, agricultural and rural development and granted soft loans for the mechanical engineering, fisheries, garment and textiles and ship building industries.
Fishing ports to be built
The Ministry of Fisheries will invest VND 59 billion in 2001 to build 12 fishing ports in order to create favourable conditions for the buying and processing of fisheries. The fishing ports of Ngoc Hai in northern city of Haiphong, Lach Bang and Hon Me in northern province of Thanh Hoa, Lach Quen in the central province of Nghe An and Hon Ro in the central province of Khanh Hoa will each receive an investment capital of VND 5 billion.
Japan helps build bridge in Quang Ninh
Japan pledged US $86.65 million to help build a bridge in Hoanh Bo district, Quang Ninh province. This was announced in a ceremony in Hanoi on February 9. The bridge will be built cross the Dong Giang river in the place of the old bridge swept away by flood water in 1999. Counselor at the Japanese Embassy to Vietnam, Hitoshi Ozawa, and chairman of the People's Committee of Hoanh Bo District Pham Nho signed the aid contract to replace a bridge which was swept away by floods in 1999. Hoanh Bo, adjacent to Ha Long City, is an agricultural and forestry district with a town and 14 communes and a population of 54,000. Since the floods, local residents have had to transport goods by hand or motorbike on a plank placed across the river.