The Ministry of Transport has launched a 6,600 billion VND (314 millionUSD) canal project to allow ships of up to 10,000 tonnes to access allports along the Hau river.

When completed, theQuan Chanh Bo canal will become an important part of the waterwaynetwork in the Mekong Delta, helping reduce transport costs for exports,particularly farm produces and aquatic products from the region.

The Mekong Delta region is actively developing water-based transportas well as seaports in a bid to lower transport costs and ease pressureon land routes linking it with Ho Chi Minh City.

Work is well underway on a waterway connecting Ho Chi Minh Citywith Kien Giang province through Long An, Tien Giang, Dong Thap and AnGiang provinces, with the aim of completing it in 2015.

Just one month ago, the transport ministry started construction ofanother route using the Cho Gao canal in Tien Giang province, while landclearance is being implemented for another route connecting Bac Lieuand Soc Trang provinces with Ho Chi Minh City.

The three waterway routes together with the Quan Chanh Bo canal areexpected to become operation in the next two or three years, forming anefficient transport network for the Mekong Delta.

Furthermore, from now until 2016, the transport ministry will continuewith its projects to upgrade Can Tho river port so that it can handle650,000 tonnes of cargo each year and receive vessels of up to 10,000tonnes.

Meanwhile, construction work on fourmore wharves in Cai Cui river port, which are designed to handle 2.5million tonnes of cargo every year, is well underway.

The Mekong Delta region comprises of 12 provinces and onecentrally-run city with a total area of 40,000 square kilometres and apopulation of 18 million. It is the largest granary and the majoraquaculture development region of the country.-VNA