(28-08-2007)

Deputy PM Pham Gia Khiem (centre) and his Lao counterpart Somsavat Lengsavat (left) attend the East-West Economic Corridor Fair in Da Nang. — VNA/VNS Photo Vu Cong Dien

Da Nang – East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) Week 2007 opened in the central city of Da Nang yesterday

Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem said the EWEC Week 2007 would contribute to increasing mutual understanding, friendship, solidarity and co-operation between EWEC member countries.

EWEC nations should strive to develop tourism, improve transport links and promote trade and investment in the region, he said.

Deputy PM Khiem said he hoped EWEC 2007, the first of its kind in Viet Nam, would be followed by similar activities in countries along the corridor to enhance cultural and economic ties in the region.

Tran Van Minh, Chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee, said that, as the last point of the corridor, Da Nang holds massive tourism potential. He said to help make the most of this lucrative source of income, the province had built up a highly skilled workforce and had numerous investment incentives in place to attract businesses.

The theme of this year’s fair is "EWEC – A corridor of friendship and economic co-operation: from ideal to reality". More than 200 businesses from Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Russia, India, the Republic of Korea, Pakistan and Viet Nam are showcasing a wide range of products at over 350 booths.

Earlier, Deputy PM Khiem, who is also Foreign Minister, received his Lao counterpart Somsavat Lengsavad, senior delegates from participating countries, and representatives from the Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Development

Deputy Prime Minister Khiem highlighted the significant impact the EWEC project was likely to have on socio-economic development, co-operation and the fight against poverty in the region.

The Deputy PM made his remarks during an interview with the Vietnam News Agency on the eve of the EWEC Week 2007.

The Deputy PM said with finance provided by the Asian Development Bank and the Japanese Government, major transport infrastructure facilities lying along the corridor would be upgraded, such as Tien Sa and Da Nang ports, the Hai Van tunnel and Highway 9 in Viet Nam.

Late in 2006, a second bridge over the Mekong River was opened to traffic. The bridge serves as a link between Thailand ‘s seven northeast provinces, Laos’ Savannakhet Province and Viet Nam’s three central provinces, he told the VNA

The Deputy PM went on to say that work on the EWEC’s western part, which runs from Thailand to Myanmar would start soon. When completed, the on-land corridor that connects the Pacific and Indian oceans would pave the way for millions of people in Viet Nam, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar to rise from poverty, he said, adding that it would also serve to reduce the development disparity between the EWEC region and other parts of Southeast Asia.

In addition, he said the project had enabled participating countries to better exploit their natural resources.

In future, the project would play a crucial part in helping the four countries expand trade, investment and tourism, and attract more foreign investment into the area, Khiem said.

"I believe the EWEC will become the corridor of co-operation, friendship and mutual development for countries in the region," he said.

The corridor runs from Da Nang City, Thua Thien-Hue and Quang Tri provinces in Viet Nam through Savanakhet Province in Laos. to Mae Sot, Tak, Phitsalulok, Khon Kaen, Kalasin, Kuchinarai and Mukdahan provinces in Thailand, and ends in Myanmar’s Mawlamyine and Myawaddy provinces before connecting to the Pacific Ocean - a total length of 1,450km.

EWEC is one of the key development co-operation projects in the Greater Sub-Mekong Region (GMS). The project was discussed and ratified at the eighth Ministerial Meeting of GMS in Manila, the Philippines in October 1998 and was officially introduced to the Ha Noi Action Plan in December 1998 at the sixth ASEAN Summit Meeting. — VNS