According to MoT Deputy Minister Ngo Duc Thinh, the Dau Giay-Phan Thiet expressway, invested by Bitexco Group, will be the first pilot project to be implemented under the PPP model in the field of building the national expressway network.

Bitexco’s representative said the project has an estimated investment capital of VND14.35 trillion, of which VND1.4 trillion will come from Bitexco and the remaining will be mobilised from credit organisations, domestic and foreign partners. Work on the 100km-long route is expected to commence in late 2010.

The Ninh Binh-Thanh Hoa expressway project, with an estimated investment capital of VND29.8 trillion, has also been selected to be implemented under the PPP form. The 120 km-long expressway will run through three provinces, including Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa.

To speed up the implementation of the two projects, the Ministry of Planning and Investment has called for the World Bank’s financial support through its reconstruction and development capital sources.

Apart from the two above-mentioned projects, the MoT has made a list of eight other projects calling for domestic and foreign private investors under the PPP model. They include the Da Nang-Quang Ngai, My Thuan-Can Tho, Noi Bai-Ha Long, Ha Long-Mong Cai, Dau Giay-Da Lat and Ben Luc-Long Thanh expressways, the Hai Phong International port and the Ho Chi Minh City-Can Tho hi-speed railway.