Deputy Chief Representative of JICA Viet Nam Fukuda Chihiro speaks at the working session. (Photo: VNA)
Representatives of the Can Tho city People’s Committee had a working session with a delegation of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on February 13 to discuss a project on developing transport network in adaptation to climate change in the Mekong Delta locality.
The Mekong DPO project includes upgrading and expanding National Highway 61C's section running through Can Tho, and constructing a road connecting O Mon and Thoi Lai districts of Can Tho to Giong Rieng district of Kien Giang province. It has an estimated total investment of over 8.78 trillion (362 million USD), with JICA's official development assistance (ODA) loans covering more than 5.73 trillion VND (225.45 million USD).
As scheduled, the project investment plan will be prepared, submitted, and approved in the second quarter of 2025. Its feasibility study will be completed in the last quarter of this year.
The government is expected to sign an agreement on ODA funding in the second quarter of 2026. The project’s construction is scheduled to begin in 2027 and be completed by 2030.
According to Deputy Chief Representative of JICA Viet Nam Fukuda Chihiro, JICA has supported many Mekong Delta localities, including Can Tho, in developing infrastructure projects in recent years.
The agency is ready to conduct a survey in preparation for the Mekong DPO project to support Can Tho in the next steps, he stated, adding that in its upcoming survey, the agency will update environmental and social information to meet JICA’s criteria.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Ngoc He said Can Tho has worked with Kien Giang and Dong Thap provinces to complete procedural requirements for the project.
Once the project proposal is approved by the Prime Minister, the municipal People’s Committee will proceed with preparing and submitting the investment policy for approval; negotiating loan agreements, and implementing the project during the 2026-2030 period, He said.
He expressed his hope that JICA would continue supporting the project's implementation, particularly in appraising loans for the project under JICA’s authority and in negotiating loan agreements with central ministries and agencies to facilitate the execution./.
Source: VNA
