The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will provide a ¥14bn ($150m) loan for a highway project in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The funding is expected to be used to complete the Saigon east-west highway project and the Thu Thiem tunnel, which will link the city centre to the District 2 side of the highway.

Construction of the highway is scheduled to be complete in 2011, according to vietnamnet.vn.

The JICA is also supporting the building of the north-south Expressway from Ho Chi Minh City to Dau Giay.