Domestic enterprises affirm that they have prepared and are ready to participate in railway projects, including the high-speed North-South railway. However, the government needs to promptly establish a legal framework.

To prepare for investment in railway projects such as the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong line, the high-speed North-South railway, and urban railway lines, the Ministry of Construction held a workshop on March 21 titled "Vietnamese enterprises and the development of Vietnam’s railway industry."

Recently, the Ministry of Construction has reported to the Politburo, the Government, and the National Assembly three key resolutions: constructing the high-speed railway on the North-South axis, building the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway, and developing urban railways in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

In its proposals to the Politburo, the Ministry of Construction aims to enable Vietnam to master the surveying, design, and construction of railways with speeds of up to 160 km/h or less and urban railways by 2030.

Regarding signaling and communication systems, starting from 2030, Vietnam plans to produce software and master control equipment, electric power systems, and manufacture locomotives and railcars domestically.

During the workshop, Do Manh Cuong, Deputy General Director of FECON, stated that the company has prepared its workforce to participate in high-tech railway projects. As early as 2014, the company sent numerous engineers, master's degree holders, and Ph.D. graduates abroad to gain practical experience.

Despite this early preparation, Cuong revealed that FECON has only recently been involved in building a metro line domestically, and even then only as a subcontractor. He emphasized the need to establish a legal framework that would enable Vietnamese companies to take a leading role rather than serving as subcontractors for foreign contractors. He proposed allowing domestic contractors to form consortiums and, if necessary, hire foreign experts for support.

Additionally, Cuong suggested that the government should implement policies to help local businesses access preferential loans, facilitate contractor designation, and ensure product output for technological investments, thereby encouraging confidence in funding large projects.

“I believe that with a sufficiently large market and reasonable policies, domestic enterprises are ready to invest,” Cuong said.

Similarly, Ho Sy Hoa, Chairman of Trung Chinh Trading and Construction Co., Ltd., noted that most Vietnamese construction companies have mastered the technology, methods, and equipment required for building tunnels and bridges. He urged the government to quickly issue standards for design, construction, quality control of materials, and inspection of completed work.

Hoa recommended that the Ministry of Construction develop a mechanism for presenting solutions to the Government and the National Assembly, outlining contractor selection strategies that would give enterprises the confidence to invest in research, technology, and equipment. At the same time, businesses could seek partnerships with both domestic and foreign counterparts to avoid being caught off guard by overly tight deadlines.

Hoa asserted that if assigned tasks related to bridge and tunnel construction, his company would "get to work immediately without losing any time."

In addition, major corporations such as the Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group, Hoa Phat Group, and the Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Corporation have also confirmed their readiness to participate in the railway projects. They emphasized the need for a level playing field and government policies that favor domestic enterprises.

Furthermore, the government should introduce mechanisms to assign EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) consortiums for the first projects, mandating the involvement of domestic companies to help them acquire and master new technologies.

In response to the recommendations from businesses, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Danh Huy stated that the Ministry would take into account all feedback to report to the relevant authorities and develop specific policies that facilitate domestic enterprises' participation in modern railway projects in the near future.

N. Huyen