Post by Laoupdate on Apr 6, 2005 7:17:54 GMT -5
HANOI, April 6 Asia Pulse - The East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC), or the trans-Asia highway, will bear the increasing volume of transported goods between Thailand, Laos and Vietnam and encourage co-operation between those countries.
A seminar on using the EWEC to promote trade, tourism and investment between Laos, Thailand and Vietnam was held in the central city of Hue last Friday.
Deputy minister of trade, Tran Duc Minh, said the three countries can join hands in infrastructure development, paving the way for trade, tourism and services in the areas along the highway.
The East-West Economic Corridor, running through central Vietnam, central Laos and northeastern Thailand, was proposed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in 1998.
When complete, it will link Mawlamyine on the Andaman Sea in Myanmar to Da Nang in Vietnam by a 1,500km all-weather road.
The rich resources of each country are expected to lead to beautiful trade. Northeast Thailand has great potential in the agricultural and consumer goods sectors, while central Laos is rich in agriculture, forestry, mineral and hydropower resources. ADVERTISEMENT
Central Vietnam's strength lies in its industrial crops, forests and marine and mineral resources.
ADB said it expects the volume of goods transported along the highway roughly to double between 2000 and 2010 and double again the following decade.
In Vietnam, the corridor will run from Tien Sa Port in Da Nang City through the central province of Thua Thien-Hue to Lao Bao Border Gate in Quang Tri.
The Vietnam section includes the 180-km stretch of National Highway No 1A from Da Nang to Dong Ha and an 80km stretch of Highway No 9 from Dong Ha to the Lao Bao Border Gate.
Vietnam has developed a number of infrastructure development projects of the highway's section in the country, including Highway No 9, the Hai Van Tunnel on National Highway No 1, Chan May Seaport in Thua Thien-Hue Province and Ky Ha Port in Quang Nam.
In addition, a number of industrial parks, economic zones and export processing zones are being developed along the trans-Asia highway.
On the same day as the EWEC seminar, a trade fair showcasing goods from Laos, Thailand and Vietnam opened in Hue, jointly held by the Thai Embassy in Vietnam, Thua Thien-Hue Province and ADB.
(VNA)
Photo: www.visit-mekong.com/ewec/images/ewecmap02.jpg
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