Japan to join railway projects in 3 Asian nations-Nikkei
Print 
Japan will partner with Keihan Electric Railway Co and others for railway projects in Vietnam, Mongolia and Indonesia, The Nikkei business daily said.
Japan has reached a deal with the three nations to build four railway projects, which are expected to cost 535 billion Yen ($6.60 billion)in total, the newspaper said.
Japan will invest into railcars, signal systems and operations for these projects, the daily said.
Keihan Electric Railway will invest in the entity supervising the largest project, a 35 kilometre railway in Vietnam connecting central Hanoi with a high-tech industrial park, the Nikkei said.
Nomura Research Institute and others will conduct feasibility studies for the project, which is expected to cost 270 billion yen ($3.33 billion), the newspaper said.
In Mongolia, Marubeni Corp plans to invest in two subway lines that will be constructed in central Ulan Bator. JGC Corp and others will participate in feasibility studies. The total cost is expected to reach 180 billion yen ($2.22 billion), the daily said.
In Indonesia, Sojitz Corp and infrastructure design firm Japan Transportation Consultants Inc plan to join a 55 billion yen ($679 million) project to restore a 189km railway in southern Sumatra.
In Jakarta, for a project involving a major train station, Osaka-based Nikken Sekkei Civil Engineering and Tokyu Land Corp plan to participate. The project is worth 30 billion yen ($370 million), The Nikkei said.
The projects will be done in public-private partnerships and the feasibility studies for the railway projects will begin in August, the daily said.
The undertakings are expected to be eligible for funds under Japan's official development assistance programme, which provides yen loans to foreign nations, the newspaper said.
The participating Japanese companies will tap loans from Jica and Japan Bank for International Cooperation, The Nikkei said.
