Development of transport infrastructure in the south falls short of growing demand (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNS/VNA) -Developing the transport network in the south needs closer regional linkagesand solutions to respond to climate change threats, Duong Nhu Hung ofthe Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology has said.
Speakingat a recent workshop in HCM City on identifying problems and finding solutionsfor sustainable development of transportation, he said developing transportinfrastructure would help attract more foreign direct investment.
If thequality of transport infrastructure increases by 10 percent, FDI would increaseby 24 percent and per capita income by 23 percent, he said.
“The fourmain factors that need attention are the quality of planning, management oftransport infrastructure quality, capital resources, and climate change.”
"Investmentis skewed too much in favour of roads," he said, pointing out that whileinland waterways carry double the traffic as roads, they get only 14 percent ofthe total investment in transport infrastructure and a fifth of theinvestment in roads.
"Thepoor infrastructure leads to high transport costs and restricts tradecompetitiveness. Road transport costs 10-60 percent more thanwaterway transport," he said.
“We needto increase the ratio of investment in inland waterways.”
Butfunding is limited, and bank loans account for 80-90 percent of thecost of transport projects, according to Hung.
TheGovernment should consider issuing infrastructure bonds and allowing flexiblepolicies with regard to property taxes and investment for some localities, hesaid.
Researchinto new building materials that can adapt to climate change, improving theefficiency of the Road Maintenance Fund and giving HCM City a leading role inplanning transport infrastructure were also needed.
DrMartijin van de Groep, an expert on adaptive delta management, said it wasnecessary to focus clearly on the natural characteristics and competitiveadvantages of Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta.
The deltahad a modern, commercial agricultural sector specialising in high-qualityagro-food products, he said.
"Ahigh-quality transport infrastructure is essential for a well functioning,modern, high-tech, competitive agro-based economy."
Urban andindustrial development was concentrated in the HCM City-Can Tho corridor andsocio-economic development lagged in rural areas, resulting in themigration of landless people, he said.
The deltahad developed into a diversified economy with multiple primary, secondary andtertiary sector activities concentrated in designated economic zones, he said.
“It needsimpeccable integrated planning and regional co-ordination.”
"Itneeds a multi-year programme for infrastructure, spatial planning andtransport," he said.
DeputyMinister of Construction Nguyen Dinh Toan said the development oftransport infrastructure must be linked closely with the urbanplanning for each locality and the overall region.
Moremulti-modal transport policy recommendations would be required to find ways toimprove intra-regional connectivity in the south, he said.
Theworkshop was organised by the Vietnam National University, HCM City.-VNS/VNA
Speakingat a recent workshop in HCM City on identifying problems and finding solutionsfor sustainable development of transportation, he said developing transportinfrastructure would help attract more foreign direct investment.
If thequality of transport infrastructure increases by 10 percent, FDI would increaseby 24 percent and per capita income by 23 percent, he said.
“The fourmain factors that need attention are the quality of planning, management oftransport infrastructure quality, capital resources, and climate change.”
"Investmentis skewed too much in favour of roads," he said, pointing out that whileinland waterways carry double the traffic as roads, they get only 14 percent ofthe total investment in transport infrastructure and a fifth of theinvestment in roads.
"Thepoor infrastructure leads to high transport costs and restricts tradecompetitiveness. Road transport costs 10-60 percent more thanwaterway transport," he said.
“We needto increase the ratio of investment in inland waterways.”
Butfunding is limited, and bank loans account for 80-90 percent of thecost of transport projects, according to Hung.
TheGovernment should consider issuing infrastructure bonds and allowing flexiblepolicies with regard to property taxes and investment for some localities, hesaid.
Researchinto new building materials that can adapt to climate change, improving theefficiency of the Road Maintenance Fund and giving HCM City a leading role inplanning transport infrastructure were also needed.
DrMartijin van de Groep, an expert on adaptive delta management, said it wasnecessary to focus clearly on the natural characteristics and competitiveadvantages of Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta.
The deltahad a modern, commercial agricultural sector specialising in high-qualityagro-food products, he said.
"Ahigh-quality transport infrastructure is essential for a well functioning,modern, high-tech, competitive agro-based economy."
Urban andindustrial development was concentrated in the HCM City-Can Tho corridor andsocio-economic development lagged in rural areas, resulting in themigration of landless people, he said.
The deltahad developed into a diversified economy with multiple primary, secondary andtertiary sector activities concentrated in designated economic zones, he said.
“It needsimpeccable integrated planning and regional co-ordination.”
"Itneeds a multi-year programme for infrastructure, spatial planning andtransport," he said.
DeputyMinister of Construction Nguyen Dinh Toan said the development oftransport infrastructure must be linked closely with the urbanplanning for each locality and the overall region.
Moremulti-modal transport policy recommendations would be required to find ways toimprove intra-regional connectivity in the south, he said.
Theworkshop was organised by the Vietnam National University, HCM City.-VNS/VNA
VNA
