The Asian Development Bank has announced its grant of 1.3 million USD for the preparation of a project to upgrade national highways in Vietnam and Laos.
In the November 20 press release, the Manila-based bank said the money will go for a feasibility for a project to upgrade 200 kilometres of national highway in central Thanh Hoa province in Vietnam and 140 kilometres of national highways in Houaphanh province in Laos.
The study will provide detailed cost estimates and consider the environmental and social impacts of the Second Northern Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Transport Network Improvement Project.
“By improving the efficiency of transport in the GMS northeastern corridor, the project will increase economic growth and reduce poverty in two of the poorer provinces of Laos and Vietnam,” said Jeffrey Miller, Principal Transport Specialist with ADB’s Southeast Asia Department.
The project will also help promote sub-regional economic cooperation, one of the pillars of ADB Strategy 2020 development agenda.
Laos and Vietnam will provide the 150,000 USD each to help finance the feasibility study, which was estimated at 1.6 million USD.