JICA Signs Deal to Lend JPY41B for Vietnam’s Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien Metro Line
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed an agreement to lend over JPY41 billion ($290.65 million) for the construction of Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line in Vietnam’s southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City.
This is the fourth loan the Japanese government has committed to fund the metro route, the first of its kind in HCMC, following three previous loans in 2007, 2012, and 2016.
It was also one of the important documents signed during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s working trip to Japan, right after the two countries elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
The 19.7-kilometer Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro route, designed to run from Ben Thanh Depot in District 1 to Long Binh Depot in Thu Duc City with 14 stations, kicked off in 2012 and was expected to be completed by end-2018. However, it has been behind schedule due to various reasons and is expected to start commercial operation in July 2024.
A representative of the Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR) said that the project’s workload has reached around 96% and is expected to start its commercial operation in July 2024.