The launch of the project on May 27. Photo: European Union in Vietnam

The Vietnamese government, four provinces in North-Central-Coast of Vietnam, the European Union (EU), and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) held a ceremony to launch the Technical Assistance Component to the “Climate-Resilient Urban Infrastructure Project in Four North-Central-Coast Provinces in Vietnam” (CRUIV) aiming at decreasing the vulnerability to climate hazards in five regional towns.

Ambassador Giorgio Aliberti, head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam, said at the launching, “In recent years many parts of central Vietnam have been severely impacted by floods and storms, causing loss of life, and considerable hardship in rural communities and regional towns. As the cities and towns continue to expand, adaptation to climate change is crucial for sustainability.

While the investment in new urban infrastructure under the CRUIV project will be key to boosting resilience, so too will capacity building. By engaging with local administrations, the activities of the project will improve long-term sustainability by enhancing the capacity for coordination and communication, developing information and risk management systems, and supporting operations and maintenance. This is fully in line with EU’s global priorities on sustainable cities.”

The project is co-financed with a EUR 5 million (over USD 5.3 million) grant from the European Union (EU), and a EUR 123 million ODA loan from the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and EUR 28 million from provincial budgets.

Ambassador Giorgio Aliberti, head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam, speaks at the launching.

It aims to reduce the vulnerability to natural disasters in five urban areas: Phat Diem township (Ninh Binh province), Ngoc Lac township (Thanh Hoa province), Hoang Mai town (Nghe An province), and Huong Khe and Thach Ha townships (Ha Tinh province).

Under this project, necessary urban infrastructure facilities will be built to serve water drainage, ease flooding, and improve environmental hygiene, clean water supply, and solid waste treatment.

Technical assistance will also be provided to help the localities enhance the project’s sustainability by boosting their capacity to operate and maintain wastewater treatment stations and other utilities.

AFD Director in Vietnam Hervé Conan noted the project matches the AFD’s strategy in the country, which is to help implement the Paris Agreement on climate change and Vietnam’s commitments made at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26).

The combination of an AFD loan with the EU’s non-refundable aid is a big advantage for the success of this project as well as for the sustainability of urban infrastructure, he added.

Timor Leste Athlete Brings Home Souvenirs from Vietnamese Fans Along with a Vietnamese flag, the foreign athlete also brought many souvenirs representing the love from his Vietnamese fans, like the signature Vietnam pith helmet.

Summer Camp for Vietnamese Youths in Europe to be Held in August A summer camp for Vietnamese youths and students in Europe named “Vietheart Summer Camp 2022” will be held in the Czech Republic to unite the ...

Vietnam Promotes Initiatives on Women’s Economic Empowerment More than 3000 women-owned enterprises strengthened capacity in business management