Toshiba Corp., Hitachi Ltd. and Itochu Corp. announced on March 18 that they were awarded a contract to supply an intelligence transport system (ITS) to an expressway in Vietnam planned by Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC). This is the first order of ITS packages received by Japanese firms outside the country. The contract value is some 400 billion yen and the operation is scheduled to start in the first half of 2017.

The package includes electronic toll collection (ETC), traffic control and equipment monitoring systems, which will be installed at a 55km Ho Chi Minh-Dau Giay section with an assistance of Japanese ODA loan. The section is a part of the total 1,811km long National North-South Expressway. Toshiba will supply the systems and Hitachi will be in charge of installation, while Itochu will practice an administrative work.

Regarding the contract winning, a Japanese Land Ministry official welcomed the good news and expressed its expectation for Japanese companies expanding the ITS business abroad.

Southern Vietnam has experienced rapid economic development which causes serious traffic congestions. On the assumption that the traffic demand is on steady rise, the project owner, VEC expects ITS will contribute to improving the traffic environment. The contractors were selected through a competitive bidding based on their high capability and track records in Japan.

(2014/03/19)