Đồng Xoài city in Bình Phước Province sees socio-economic development. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Chí Tưởng

BÌNH PHƯỚC — The south-eastern province of Bình Phước is seeking the construction of a highway from its Chơn Thành District to HCM City and a rail link from the district to the Cái Mép-Thị Vải deep-water port in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province to facilitate goods transportation and attract investors.

The port is capable of handling large container vessels of up to 20,000 deadweight tonnes (DWT) with 18,000 TEU capacity and international goods transport capacity.

Speaking at a meeting with Ministry of Transport officials last week, Nguyễn Văn Lợi, the province’s Party committee secretary, said Bình Phước needed to improve transport connectivity with provinces and cities in the southern region to help it develop.

The 69km highway to HCM City’s Thủ Đức District with six to eight lanes will go through Thủ Dầu Một City in Bình Dương Province.

Minister of Transport Nguyễn Văn Thể said the highway would foster economic development of the southern region and reduce travel time between the city to Bình Dương and Bình Phước provinces.

His ministry would soon submit a proposal for building the highway to the National Assembly for approval and seek to earmark budget for it, he promised.

Lợi also urged the ministry to approve construction of the Mã Đà Bridge linking the province with Đồng Nai and Bà Rịa- Vũng Tàu provinces to shorten the distance to the upcoming Long Thành international airport and Cái Mép-Thị Vải port.

Thể agreed with the proposal and said the ministry would give priority to resolving the problems related to building the bridge.

It would also instruct relevant agencies to study the proposed rail link to Cái Mép- Thị Vải port, he said, pointing out that it would help reduce the congestion on many roads leading to the port.

Investment in Bình Phước Province’s transport systems would help develop its economy, the southern region and the neighbouring Central Highlands region, he said.

Highways 13, 14, and 14C going through the province had been added to the amended transportation plans, he said.

Since the province is near HCM City, Bình Dương and Đồng Nai, it could build industrial parks and clusters like them, he added.

The province currently has National Highway 13 linking the city, Bình Dương Province and the Hoa Lư international border gate on the Cambodian border.

The Hồ Chí Minh Highway will help connect the province with Central Highlands provinces, but a shortage of funds has delayed its construction. — VNS