McPherse Thompson,
Senior Financial Reporter 
.GIF)
Thomas and Patterson
JAMAICA IS expected to secure an estimated US$4 million to US$6 million in technical assistance from Malaysia to assist in the construction of Highway 2000, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson's ambitious 230-kilometre road project linking Kingston with the tourist resort of Montego Bay.
An agreement to that effect has not yet been signed, but assurance of the assistance was obtained when Highway 2000 co-ordinator, Kingsley Thomas, led a team on a 10-day mission to the Asian country recently.
Public relations manager of the Highway 2000 Project Unit, Gladstone Wilson, who was also a part of the team, told Wednesday Business that during the visit, they had discussions with, among other personnel, the Malaysian Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Finance.
However, he said that although Jamaica would also be seeking bilateral capital assistance from Malaysia to fund the project, and that the provision of such funds formed part of the team's discussions with officials there, those talks were not concluded.
While noting that Jamaica could benefit from technical assistance valued at between US$4 million and US$6 million, Mr. Wilson could not say how many technical personnel from Malaysia were expected to assist in the Highway 2000 project. However, he intimated that it could also involve sending Jamaicans to that country to receive training in the maintenance of the highway. A representative of Jamaica's National Works Agency, which is expected to assist in maintaining the highway, also accompanied the team to Malaysia.
Highway 2000, planned as a public sector and private sector partnership, is expected to be the largest ever transport infrastructure scheme undertaken in the region.
Mr. Wilson said one of the objectives of the team visiting Malaysia was to draw on their experience in operating toll highways and to seek their assistance in the bidding process currently under way for construction and maintenance of the expressway.
Three international companies shortlisted to develop the toll highway have been given until February 15 to submit their bids, Mr. Wilson said, noting that an assessment will then be done and an announcement of the successful bidder made some time in April.
The Government is expected to choose between French giant Bouygues, which has joined with a South African group, led by LTA Construction, and Spanish construction powerhouse, Dragados.
Last year, Mr. Thomas said that although the three companies were individually shortlisted, they could join forces if they wanted and submit a final proposal for the project.
The Jamaican team's visit to the Asian country followed last October's visit to Jamaica by three representatives from Malaysia who came to the island to hold discussions with Government officials as part of the efforts to get the project under way.
Malaysia is well-advanced in the building of road networks and highways in developing countries, having built some of the world's best toll highways in Asia over the last two decades.
The highway has been earmarked to link Jamaica's tourism resorts and major townships including Negril, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Mandeville and Kingston.
