TTXVN (VNA) News-082399

[bich dao <daotb@yahoo.com>]

CONSULTANCY CONTRACT SIGNED FOR TRANS-ASIAN
                                  HIGHWAY 

                Ha Noi, Aug. 21 (VNA) -- The My Thuan Project
Management Unit
             (PMU) has engaged the joint venture enterprise between
Taiwanese
             China Engineering Consultants Inc. and US-based Louis
Berger
             International Inc. as consultants to supervise
construction of the
             Vietnamese section of the Trans-Asian Highway. 

                The Trans-Asian Highway project is designed to link Ho
Chi Minh City
             to Phnom Penh, as part of the international programme for
cultural and
             socio-economic development in the lower basin of the
Mekong River. 

                The section of the road within Viet Nam will measure
almost 80 km
             and is divided into three segments. The first segment from
National
             Highway One to An Suong Intersection and Hoc Mon, will be
29.6 km
             long and 33 m wide. The second segment in Hoc Mon will be
13.5 km
             long and 26 m wide and the third segment, to the Moc Bai
Border Gate,
             36.6 km long and 14 m wide. 

                Over USD 144 million will be invested in the project,
including an
             Asian Development Bank loan of USD 100 million to finance
             construction work. The Vietnamese Government will provide
the
             remaining USD 44.77 million to be used for site clearance
and the
             removal of undetonated bombs and land mines along the
             route.--VNS/VNA 
----------
EXCHANGE RATES UPDATE 

                Ha Noi, August 21 (VNA) -- Hereunder are the Viet Nam
Foreign
             Trade Bank's exchange rates applicable on August 21, 1999.


                Buying: in cash 

                Euro: 14,785.00 Vietnamese dong (VND) 

                GB pound: 21,145.00 VND 

                US dollar: 13,920.00 VND 

                French franc: 2,125.00 VND 

                Deutsche mark: 7,215.00 VND 

                Japanese yen: 117.00 VND 

                Selling: 

                Euro: 14,963.00 VND 

                GB pound: 22,737.00 VND 

                US dollar: 13,964.00 VND 

                French franc: 2,285.00 VND 

                Deutsche mark: 7,651.00 VND 

                Japanese yen: 126.24 VND.--VNA 
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