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Trans-Asia Highway to change economic geography of region

Date: March 05, 2004

HCM CITY — Southeast Asia will see major economic benefits once the Trans-Asia Highway which traverses five countries is complete, say experts.

"When the improvements of transport facilities are finished and cross-border movement of goods and people is further facilitated, the corridor will change the economic geography of Southeast Asia," said Kazu Sakai, deputy director general of the Mekong Department of Asian Development Bank (ADB).

An ADB-financed project, the highway is expected to increase trade and investment along its route, said Sakai, who spoke at a workshop last month on the economic potential of the road in Savannakhet, Laos.

Participants from Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam discussed how to develop special economic zones, promote tourism, and create single-stop customs inspection procedures. Cambodia participated as an observer.

The Trans-Asia highway includes other portions of roads now under construction or at an advanced stage of preparation.

It is expected to bring about major economic and social change to the Greater Mekong Subregion, which includes Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam and the Yunnan Province of China.

The highway will also be an important link between South Asia and South East Asia.

The workshop also highlighted the crucial role of the private sector in developing the corridor.

The workshop was organised by the Lao Government, ADB, Japan Bank for International Co-operation, Japan International Co-operation Agency, and Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The 1,500km highway will extend from the Mawlamyine port in Myanmar through the northeastern part of Thailand and central Laos to the Da Nang port in Viet Nam.

A bridge has already been built over the Mekong River which links the border province of Savannakhet of Laos with Mukdahan of Thailand.

Other segments of the highway are finished or at an advanced stage. Sections of the roads that are linked to the highway and considered part of the "economic corridor" in Laos and Viet Nam have also been upgraded.

Construction is underway on the Hai Van Tunnel in Viet Nam linking Thua Thien-Hue Province and Da Nang. The Tien Sa Port in Da Nang is being upgraded as part of the project.

A second Mekong International Bridge linking Thailand and Laos has also begun. — VNS

(Source: Vietnam News)

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