This is an effort to improve the quality of transport as one of the key services that contribute on GDP growth in the years to come, according to the ministry.

Transport Minister Ho Nghia Dung has asked relevant agencies to speed up work on the drawing up of schemes for developing a coastal expressway, a north-south sea transportation route and a zoning master plan for airports in coastal areas and on islands.

Dung has also told transport experts to complete an air transport development plan to 2020 and draft regulations on civil aircraft management.

All the five schemes are scheduled to go before the prime minister for approval by the end of this year.

According to transport experts, the most important scheme is to develop the coastal expressway as it is aimed at implementing a sea-based economy development strategy until 2020.

Last month, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked the transport ministry to draw up a scheme for developing the expressway along the coasts of the northern to southern regions.

The road is part of the Government's action plan to be carried out from now to 2020 to translate Vietnam's sea-borne economy development strategy into reality.

The project will play an important role in the master plan for socio-economic development as well as help to tap resources to develop the marine economy.

The State-owned Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Group (Vinashin Group) is also mapping out a plan for developing a north-south sea transportation route.

As a preparatory step for this plan, Vinashin Group last Friday started upgrading the Hon Gai passenger wharf in the northern province of Quang Ninh into an international passenger port.

Nguyen Quoc Anh, deputy general director of the group, said the Hon Gai passenger port project requires VND645bil (US$40mil) for two phases.

After the first phase is completed by the end of next year, the passenger port could receive ships of 85,000 gross tonnage, with an annual handling capacity of 200,000-300,000 passengers.

In April this year, Vinashin received Government permission to build a series of high-speed passenger ferries, including for car transport, for the north-south route.

According to Vinashin's plan, the first of the six ships would be put into operation by the end of next year. The north-south ship can cruise at a speed of 29 nautical miles per hour. The total cost of the north-south sea transportation route is estimated at US$1.5-2bil.

Source: SGT