In the framework of activities celebrating 40 years of Belgian Development Cooperation in Viet Nam (1977-2017), Ambassador Jehanne Roccas will make an official visit to Binh Thuan province from 5th to 7th July 2017.

Belgian Ambassador Jehanne Roccas

Over the last 40 years, the Belgian Development Cooperation has supported Viet Nam in a number of areas: from infrastructure-focused projects to poverty reduction and social development programs in the 1990s.

With Viet Nam's "Doi Moi" policy and opening up, Belgium set priority to support Viet Nam in education, public health, water and sanitation. This to tackle possible social vulnerabilities appearing in the process of economic reform. The current Indicative Cooperation Program focuses on the areas of governance, water management and urban planning in the context of climate change and green growth.

Since 2005 Binh Thuan is one of the localities of Vietnam and in the South Central Region in particular, selected by the Belgian Development Cooperation to support in the field of sanitation and protection of the environment. The current programme focuses on water management in order to adapt to climate change.

Ambassador Roccas and the delegation will visit the works and talk with beneficiaries of the project “Improving the environmental and hygienic conditions for Lien Huong and Phan Ri Cua towns, 2007 – 2012” in Tuy Phong District; attending the inauguration of the drainage system of North Cho Lau town center; visiting the works of Luong Son drainage system and meeting with the direct beneficiaries in the project areas of the project "Integrated Water Resource Management and Urban Development in relation with climate change in Binh Thuan province (2014-2019)" and pilot projects under the "Green Growth Strategy Facility".

The Belgian delegation will also visit some households beneficiaries of the microloan program of Thien Chi in Ham Thuan Nam district (Thien Chi is a local NGO, created by Belgian NGO Mekong Plus in 2004. It has taken over all programs of Mekong Plus in the province of Bình Thuận. Today, Thiện Chí operates in 3 rural districts of Binh Thuan province, including: Đức Linh, Tánh Linh and Hàm Thuận Nam with support of Mekong Plus).

Ambassador Roccas is looking forward to the positive changes brought about by the Belgian-funded projects as well as the close and effective cooperation of the authorities at all levels of Binh Thuan province in implementing the projects./.

VNF/Hanoitimes