The Ministry of Construction (MoC) held a working session with the US conglomerate - 3M Group on May 28 to discuss development directions for the North–South High-Speed Railway Project and sustainable traffic safety solutions in Vietnam.

According to Le Trung Thanh, Director of the Department of Science Technology, Environment, and Construction Materials, this is an unprecedented project and the first of its kind in Vietnam. Given its significant scale and investment, the project requires complex technical and technological standards. The integration of advanced, multi-disciplinary technologies plays a vital role in the implementation process, he emphasised.

Edric Tan, Regional Sales Leader Southeast Asia for 3M’s Commercial Branding and Transportation Division, shared that 3M is currently involved in traffic safety and infrastructure solutions for urban railway projects in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as for Tan Son Nhat International Airport’s Terminal 3. Regionally, the group has contributed to similar railway projects in China and Thailand.

Drawing from its international experience, 3M proposed collaboration with the MoC to integrate high-standard materials, technologies, and international safety criteria from the project planning to implementation and quality supervision stages.

The company aims to offer solutions for enhancing visibility, durability, safety, and operational efficiency. These include intelligent reflective materials for traffic signs, lane markings, and navigation systems at stations; fireproofing, soundproofing, and shock absorption to protect passengers and infrastructure in high-speed and extreme environments; and advanced vibration reduction and smart maintenance technologies to extend infrastructure lifespan and stability.

3M also pledged to support Vietnam in training and technology transfer, with workshops and training programmes for engineers, managers, and contractors. The company also proposed piloting its solutions at a selected station or trial railway line under the direction of the MoC.

Director Thanh expressed his hope that 3M will continue to share experience in railway construction, maintenance, and high-speed railway industry development, helping Vietnam expand cooperation on future railway projects.

Representatives of the Vietnam Railway Authority and the Railway Project Management Board under the MoC acknowledged the practicality of 3M’s proposals and their potential to support Vietnam’s goals for sustainable and green infrastructure development.

Looking ahead, 3M proposed aligning with Vietnam’s Net-Zero 2050 commitment by piloting and integrating lightweight, durable, low-emission materials into railway infrastructure. This will build on best practices from advanced high-speed railway and smart city projects in Japan, the EU, and the Republic of Korea.

The parties agreed to conduct a field survey at 3M’s Science and Technology Centre in Hanoi to evaluate the application of these solutions in the near future./.VNA