French companies have pledged to support metro rail projects in Viet Nam. — File Photo

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) – French companies are ready to help Viet Nam develop an urban railway system by providing capital, technology and special expertise, the Consul General of France said on Tuesday.

M Fabrice Mauries made the commitment today at a seminar about urban railways systems in Viet Nam, organised by Ubifrance Viet Nam in HCM City on the occasion of the France – Viet Nam Year.

Participants included many experts and investors from Viet Nam and 11 French companies.

Developing several means of transport, including an urban railway system, is one of many important factors included in the two countries' relationships, he said.

A report from Ubifrance said that "in Ha Noi, eight metro lines are planned, including four under active preparation. In HCM City, the plan includes the construction of seven metro lines, one tramway and two monorails."

"Urban railway transport is one of the most concrete expressions of the partnership that unifies our countries," the report said.

"The flagship project of Ha Noi's underground Third Line, for which France took a significant part in the financing, testifies to this effective relationship," it added.

During the seminar, representatives of Ha Noi and HCM City spoke about investment in railways systems in the two cities.

Le Huy Hoang, deputy director of the Ha Noi Metropolitan Rail Management Board, said that more than 53 km out of a total of more than 318 km of urban railway had been completed. But difficulties remained.

"There should be a limit to the number of donors in one project because the situation could become complicated if we cannot unify the ideas of all of them," he said.

The country's insufficient legal system was also a problem, causing many problems during project construction, he added.

Representatives from HCM City expressed similar sentiments about the situation.

Hoang Nhu Cuong, deputy general of the HCM City's Management Authority for Urban Railways, said: "Vietnamese regulations and donor regulations need to be harmonised or unified before projects are executed."

Moreover, he said, if possible, land clearance should become an independent project and completed before project execution. — VNS