On Tuesday, Da Nang People’s Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho played host to some representatives from the company Japan Port Consultant (JPC) and the Overseas Coastal Area Development Institute of Japan (OCDI). 

Chairman Tho at the reception

They together discussed the possibility of them being chosen to conduct a pre-feasibility study on the construction of the Lien Chieu Port.  The study is being funded by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry through Yokohama City’s government.

During his reception, Chairman Tho remarked that his city is seeking a consultancy unit which is experienced in urban and seaport planning in order to avoid conflict between the development of the local seaport and the city’s tourism industries.  He hoped that the project would receive active assistance from the Japanese partners to ensure its effective and successful implementation.

Mr Koichiro Harada, a JPC representative, said that the intention of conducting a pre-feasibility study is to re-check and help Da Nang evaluate the feasibility of the Lien Chieu Port construction project.  The focus would be on assessing the separate functions of the local seaports, and their cargo handling capacities towards 2030.

In their pre-feasibility study, special attention would be paid to assessing environmental impact, the high risk of road and marine traffic congestion and accidents, and residential resettlement.

Mr Harada said that the study could be completed by February 2017.  The Lien Chieu Port construction project will be funded using official development assistance (ODA) loans from the Japanese government.