Vietnamese group Deoca, foreign partners aim to build railways in HCMC, Laos

Deoca Group is working with foreign partners to study construction of Ho Chi Minh City's Metro Line 2 and a railway connecting Vung Ang Economic Zone in central Vietnam to Vientiane.

Deoca and China's Sinohydro Corporation on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on studying investments in phase 3 of HCMC's Metro Line 2 project in the form of public-private partnership (PPP).

Immediately after the signing, both sides discussed plans to study the project, Deoca said Friday in a release.

Sinohydro, under Power China Group, is one of the world's biggest contractors and service providers in sectors like electricity, highways, railways, ports, sea routes, airports, real estate, manufacturing of construction equipment, research and development. Deo Ca is one of Vietnam's construction heavyweights.

Deoca vice chairman Nguyen Huu Hung and chief representative of Power China in Vietnam Du Hai Yang both said the two sides could further their cooperation in urban railway projects, transport infrastructure, and energy (wind power, waste-to-energy, among others).

On the same day, Deoca, Sinohydro, and Thailand-based AWR Lloyd, a strategic consultant of Laos-based PTLHolding, discussed construction of a high-speed railway connecting Vung Ang Economic Zone in Ha Tinh province to Vientiane, the capital city of Laos. They are scheduled to visit the site and make detailed investment plans in August.

PTLHolding is a major firm in Laos and operates in five sectors of trade and distribution of consumer goods, manufacturing of electronic items, logistics, fuel, and integrated infrastructure.

On the day, Deoca and Japan's Tasisei Rotec also discussed collaboration. Accordingly, Deoca, as the investor of some projects, will invite Rotec to join in as contractor. The Japanese firm will offer technical support in road building, repairs, maintenance, and cooperate with Deoca in bidding for some ODA-funded projects.

Taisei Rotec has participated in many major projects in Vietnam, including the upgrade of National Highway No.5, Terminal No.2 of Noi Bai International Airport, testing roads for Toyota Motors Vietnam, and others.