The VRA manages the national road network with a total length of 16,758 km.

The project aims to help the VRA improve road maintenance by designing a modern information system to manage and monitor the entire national road network for necessary maintenance.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, JICA Chief Representative Tsuno Motonori highlighted the important role the VRA has played in boosting the country’s economic development and he underlined the need to maintain the current road system rather than build more roads.

Dr Phan Le Binh, JICA senior expert said the project uses a software programme developed by experts from Kyoto University that can analyse and evaluate the real state of road damage, determine the level of repair and estimate maintenance costs. For that reason, the project is highly practical and will promote efficiency, Binh explained.

Under the project framework, the VRA will learn skills and road maintenance technology through on- the-job training courses.

The project, worth US$4.3 million in non refundable aid from the Japanese Government, will be implemented over two and a half years, beginning in mid 2011.