Transport Sector Fully Promoting Strengths

Lao Cai is one of few mountainous provinces having all transport forms of road, railway and river, connecting the Northwest region with the Southwest area of China, and will have airway in the future. These advantages have made Lao Cai a crucial link in the transport and economic corridor of Kunming – Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong – Quang Ninh; causing Lao Cai International Border Gate to be one of the biggest and most important ones between Vietnam and Southwest China.

 

At present, despite signs of economic recovery, its slow progress and persistent inflation have caused adverse influence on construction of transport infrastructure projects. Director Nguyen Trong Hai of Lao Cai Department of Transport said that, in order to promote its strengths, Lao Cai Transport determines to beat the targets to 2015, including rehabilitate and upgrade national highways, complete construction of 2 lanes of Highway Noi Bai – Lao Cai, coordinate with Ministry of Transport agencies to implement projects upgrading Yen Vien – Lao Cai railway; regulate the river way to exploit transport activities on the Red River; invest to upgrade provincial roads to meet levels V, VI or higher; foster rural transport road construction and fulfil the transport targets of 36 new rural communes.

 

To guarantee the target fulfilment, Lao Cai Transport has set out specific measures. Firstly, it will closely coordinate with Central agencies and departments to develop the agenda and plan for investment in projects, highways and works which are of central management. The transport network is an important foundation to bolster the region's advantages, attractiveness and its socio-economic driving force. Lao Cai Transport will also encourage investment as well as introduce appropriate measures to mobilize local funds for transport system development program such as: State Budget will account for a majority and ODA funds will be used efficiently. Call for funds from rural transport development projects from Ministry of Transport (funded by WB). In addition, collect from funds for transport infrastructure development, maintenance, registration etc. The current works and projects already allocated with State Budget will be finished and put into operation soon. Moreover, the sector will foster communication and information dissemination activities, actively implement campaigns of rural road construction and replicate good models to localities.

 

A comprehensively invested transport network will be a breakthrough and facilitate the flow of goods, improve the investment environment, and drive sustainable and rapid economic growth.