## Column Infrastructural Expansion Projects in India

In India in recent years, while economic liberalization and reform are steadily in progress with high economic growth, delay in infrastructure development has been pointed out. The assistance in infrastructure development in India is important not only for India's economic growth in future but also for sustainable growth of the entire Asia including Japan. In this perspective, the MLIT is addressing various issues, jointly with relevant ministries/agencies, concerned organs and private companies.

In January 2012, the Minister of MLIT visited India and had talks with the

Source: MLIT

concerned ministers for his top sales. In the talk with the Minister of Railways, it was agreed that a conference group of administrative vice-minister level be set up to accelerate cooperation between both countries in the field of high-speed railway. In addition, the high-speed railway seminar was held in Delhi jointly by the government and the private sector, where Japan's outstanding technologies of Bullet trains and high-speed railway, effects of improvement of high-speed railways, etc. were introduced with the intention to contribute to development of the high-speed railway network in India. Further in the talk with the Minister of Railways, an agreement has been reached as to the content of a memorandum regarding cooperation in the field of railways.

MLIT will continue to assist the Japanese private companies in the field of overseas development in India through multilateral approaches based on joint cooperation of the relevant ministries/agencies, concerned organs and private companies.

## Column Infrastructural Expansion Projects in Vietnam

Under the Doi-Moi (renovation) policy that started in 1986, Vietnam has pursued the market-oriented economy and opened the country to the outside world, achieving high growth by marking the average economic growth rate of 7.26% during 2000 to 2010. Vietnam requested Japan for cooperation in the projects such as North-South Express Railway and North-South Expressway, etc. In response to this, Japan is assisting in these projects and also promoting other various infrastructure projects such as Lack Huyen Port project. On November 2, 2011, at the welcome breakfast for the Prime Minister of Vietnam held by the Minister of MLIT, opinions were exchanged about cooperation in infrastructure improvement in various fields.

The various infrastructural projects now in progress in Vietnam specifically include the following:

(1) North-South Express Railway Plan:

The planned railway covers a total length of 1,600km between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. With regard to this plan, in December 2009, a feasibility study (F/S study) was requested to Japan from the Vietnam side regarding the 2 preferential sections (Hanoi-Vinh, Ho Chi Minh-Nha Trang). In May 2010, the Minister of MLIT visited Vietnam and agreed with the Vietnam side to discuss feasible measures for these 2 sections. At the Japan-Vietnam Summit Meeting in October of the same year, the Prime Minister expressed to the Vietnam side that the implementation of an F/S study for the 2 sections was decided and the F/S study was started in May 2011 by (Independent Administration Agency) Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). MLIT is also supporting this study by participating in the internal support committee consisting of outside experts that has been set up for this study. The final report on the results of this study is expected to be submitted to Vietnam in March 2013.