No less than 5 private enterprises propose to build high-speed railway

On the closing day of the 9th Session, the National Assembly passed the Resolution of the 9th Session, which allows the Government to choose the appropriate investment form and investor for the North-South high-speed railway project. If a mechanism beyond its authority is needed, the Government will report to the National Assembly for consideration and decision.

In addition to public investment, two new forms have been added: investment under the public-private partnership method (term-term cooperation between the State and investors through project contracts - PPP) and business investment, meaning investors directly invest capital to implement, operate and earn profits.

The National Assembly also passed the revised Railway Law, which includes many specific support policies for railway development and businesses participating in investment in this field.

The government welcomes private enterprises to build high-speed railways.

Speaking to the press on the sidelines of the National Assembly, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh said that after the Central Committee and the Politburo concluded, the National Assembly passed a resolution agreeing to the investment policy, creating excitement among the entire population because people have been waiting for this and it should have been done a long time ago.

The Deputy Prime Minister assessed that it is inappropriate for the economy to develop and serve growth while still using railways built 100 years ago. "If it is a nostalgic experience, it is okay, but if it is used for growth, it is not okay."

The Deputy Prime Minister mentioned Resolution 68 of the Politburo on private economic development, assessing that the private economy has been and is the leading force in innovation, application of science and technology, improving labor productivity and product quality, and is capable of carrying out important national tasks and projects.

Therefore, the state has a mechanism to create conditions for the private sector to participate in important projects. The Deputy Prime Minister cited the fact that many state projects have been assigned to the private sector, such as highways, renewable energy power plants, tunnels through mountains, large bridges, etc.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that many private enterprises have sent letters to the Government requesting to invest in the North-South high-speed railway project and this number has not stopped, there are at least 5 enterprises and there will certainly be more. The Government welcomes this.

"For railways, we must do it quickly, considering it as a boost for the economy. We cannot delay any longer because we cannot continue on the current railway lines. The country is long and requires us to have a new railway system. Moreover, it must be modern; if we are behind, we must approach international standards.

Along with that, we must fight waste, avoid price gouging, take advantage of time, shorten the time to put the project into use soon. And the fourth thing is to fight against group interests, negativity, and backyards," the Deputy Prime Minister affirmed.

With many enterprises proposing to do this project, the Government welcomes and highly appreciates private enterprises because this is also considered as a commitment. The Government thanks the enterprises and requests that enterprises continue to propose to the Government to participate in the North - South high-speed railway project.

Open, transparent, no secret between Mr. A and Mr. B

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh shares experiences of the urban railway lines in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that if nearly 70 billion USD (total investment capital for the North-South high-speed railway) is spent, the project will only be like the urban railway in two big cities, but it will not be successful.

He emphasized that there must be a high-speed railway to serve the people and economic development. There must be a railway industry; a team of skilled workers and engineers to serve railway operations and develop new railway lines because the country's needs are still very large.

If this project is implemented well, there will be a chain of urban areas from North to South associated with railway projects. Each station is an urban area, accompanied by an ecosystem including cultural centers, tourist areas, industrial zones and services.

"If we spend nearly 70 billion USD to get an ecosystem like that, we will be successful. But if we only get one road like the two urban railway lines mentioned above, people will not necessarily welcome it," the Deputy Prime Minister analyzed.

The Deputy Prime Minister stated that to achieve such a goal, there must be a way to do it, a step to pave the way. While it is not yet known whether public investment is good or private investment is good, it is clear that many businesses are interested. Therefore, the Government has proposed and the National Assembly has added and adjusted other forms of investment so that the private sector can participate. If according to the old resolution, there will only be public investment. If it is public investment, the lessons from the two urban railway lines show that there are also problems.

Thus, the legal corridor is available to choose the form of public investment or public-private partnership or private investment only. The Deputy Prime Minister said that there will be a State Council to evaluate and select publicly and transparently based on clear criteria, which the whole population must know, "no secret favoritism for Mr. A or Mr. B".

The Deputy Prime Minister said that the requirement is that when building a railway, it must reach international standards, the design must meet international standards, the supervision must be international, and the evaluation must also be international, "because we really don't have experience, so we have to invite experts in"...

By doing so, the Deputy Prime Minister believes that the goal will be achieved along with the North-South high-speed railway being an ecosystem, there will also be a railway industry and a team of human resources not only serving Vietnam's railways.

VN (according to Vietnamnet)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/khong-duoi-5-doanh-nghiep-tu-nhan-de-xuat-lam-duong-sat-toc-do-cao-415139.html