ADB economist looks to PPP for infrastructure needs
Yasuyuki Sawada is the first Japanese national appointed as chief economist at the Asian Development Bank. In an interview with the Nikkei Asian Review, he called for private-sector funding to meet the huge demand for infrastructure in Asia. This could be achieved through public-private partnerships ...
PPP Committee wants 6 more transport projects fast-tracked
The Public Private Partnership Policy Committee on March 29 resolved to place six more transportation projects worth Bt600 billion on the fast track for implementation. The Industry Ministry will also set up a working panel as soon as possible to promote investment support and tax incentives ...
Rail freight set to cut transport costs significantly
The transport of goods by railway could cut costs by 30 to 50 percent of the current charges for road transportation, a senior government official has said. Deputy Director General of the Lao Railway Department, Mr Sonesack N. Nhansana, told Vientiane Times on March 28 that ...
Lao-Thai railway section I ready for service
The Lao-Thai Railway Construction Project Phase II is now completed, while Section II will begin operations at the end of this year. The project handover ceremony was held on March 23 between the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency ...
New ToR for double-track rail projects expected in two weeks
New terms of reference for the multibillion-baht double-track railway project will be finished within two weeks, according to Anon Luangboriboon, acting State Railway of Thailand governor. Meanwhile, share prices of construction have suffered declines, attributed to the junta’s delay on the railway projects. After the original ToR ...
Board scraps ToR for B96bn rail plan
The so-called “scrutiny superboard”, overseeing the multi-billion-baht state procurement projects, has decided to scrap the terms of reference for five controversial double-track railway projects as part of its move to eliminate alleged irregularities. New ToR as well as new bidding procedures will be drafted. The decision must ...
Tunnel boring for Laos-China railway expected in coming weeks
The boring of tunnels for the Laos-China railway is expected to begin in the next few weeks following a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off construction of the project in December last year. The tunnel entrances have been earmarked and concreted in preparation for boring, the ...
Vietnam aims for safe, speedy railway
Nguyen Ngoc Dong, Vice Minister of Transport, speaks to Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper about his Ministry’s plan to develop a fast, yet safe railway service. Who is to blame for the rise in accidents at railroad crossing points in Viet Nam? I have to admit ...
Asia-Pacific transport forum eyes sustainable development
Government officials are confident that the Intergovernmental Tenth Regional Environmentally Sustainable Transport Forum in Asia currently place in Vientiane will help to spur the development of Laos’ transport network. The comment was made by Deputy Prime Minister Somdy Duangdy at the forum’s opening ceremony on ...
High-speed trains to accelerate towards bids
Bidding on construction of the Bangkok-Rayong high-speed train is expected to take place this year as part of efforts to jump-start the Eastern Economic Corridor, the government’s flagship project for Thailand 4.0. Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said the terms of reference for the project will ...
