The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has agreed to lend a total of $447 million for two transport projects in Vietnam under two agreements signed in Hanoi on Dec 24. The two agreements were signed by Vietnamese Deputy of Finance Truong Chi Trung and JICA Chief Representative Mutsuya Mori, state media reported Dec 24. Of the sum, $197.5 million will be used to build Belt Road 3, which is expected to ease traffic congestion in Hanoi and facilitate transportation between the city and its neighboring localities of Haiphong, Hai Duong and Bac Ninh. Meanwhile, $250 million will be used to build Terminal 2 of the Noi Bai International Airport to increase the airport’s capacity. The project will be conducted in the public-private partnership model. This is the 21st consecutive year the Japanese government has provided official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam. Its ODA commitments to Vietnam now total $21 billion. (Tuoi Tre – Youth Dec 25 p7, Cong An Nhan Dan –People’s Police Dec 25 p1)
