On February 1, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the HCM City – Thu Dau Mot – Chon Thanh Expressway, marking a key milestone in regional connectivity and economic development.

The Binh Duong section of the expressway spans over 52km, featuring six lanes with a designed speed of 100km/h. This is the first expressway linking HCM City with Binh Duong and Binh Phuoc provinces, and it will later connect to the Central Highlands through the Gia Nghia – Chon Thanh Expressway. The project, developed under a public-private partnership (PPP), has a total investment of VND 8.88 trillion (USD 356 million) and is expected to be completed within 36 months.

The Prime Minister emphasized the expressway’s strategic significance in enhancing regional infrastructure and economic growth. He directed HCM City to commence construction on a 3km section and Binh Phuoc to develop a 7km stretch to ensure seamless connectivity. He also urged authorities to closely monitor the project, ensuring quality, progress, safety, and environmental compliance while preventing corruption and inefficiencies. Additionally, local governments were tasked with expediting site clearance, relocating technical infrastructure, and supporting resettlement for affected residents.

On this occasion, Binh Duong Province approved seven social housing projects worth nearly VND 8.5 trillion, expected to provide 9,200 apartments for workers and low-income families. The province also granted investment licenses for eight foreign projects with a total capital exceeding USD 1.2 billion. The Prime Minister praised Binh Duong’s efforts in social housing development and urged other provinces to adopt similar initiatives to improve living conditions and eliminate substandard housing by 2025.