VietNamNet Bridge – A proposal to develop another trans-Asia highway linking central Vietnam with Laos and Thailand, officially called the Second East-West Economic Corridor (or EWEC-2), has been put forward by the central city of Da Nang.

Under the proposal, the EWEC-2 would run from Tien Sa Port in Da Nang through Highways No. 14B and 14D to Dakt-oc Border Gate in Quang Nam Province, to Sekong and Pakse in Laos, and Chongmek and Nakhon in Thailand before reaching Bangkok.

According to recent surveys conducted by Da Nang’s Planning and Investment Department, the proposed EWEC-2 highway would be 987km long, 400km shorter than the road from Da Nang to Bangkok and would use the existing EWEC running across Lao Bao Border Gate in Quang Tri Province.

However, a 123km stretch of the planned EWEC-2, from Dakt-oc Border Gate to Sekong, had not been asphalted, said Le Huu Doc, deputy director of Da Nang Planning and Investment Department.

Doc said, if the proposal were realised, it would help pave the way for economic development of Vietnam’s central provinces and Boloven Highlands in Laos, which has also great potential for developing tourism and hydropower.

Da Nang People’s Committee proposed that the development of the EWEC-2 should be included in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) programme that began in 1992 with the Asian Development Bank’s assistance.

The GMS programme was designed to enhance economic relations between Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and the Yunnan Province in China.

Doc said the Da Nang City authority on Monday submitted their plan for development of the EWEC-2 to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

He said the plan would also be presented at an investment-trade-tourism forum that will be chaired by deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem in Da Nang on August 28.

This is part of the EWEC Week 2007 held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from August 27 to September 2, which will be attended by ministerial delegates from GMS-member countries and representatives of ADB, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Japan Bank of International Cooperation and Japan External Trade Organisation.

According to Da Nang Trade Department, more than 120 companies have registered for the EWEC International Trade Fair 2007, part of the EWEC Week 2007.

These include companies from Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Russia and South Korea.

Source: http://english.vietnamnet.vn/social/2007/08/733148/