Investing 31.92 million EUR to improve Hoang Mai urban infrastructure

Nghe An provincial leaders presented souvenirs to the working delegation of the French development agency AFD. Photo: Thu Huyen

On the afternoon of May 5, a working delegation from the French development agency(AFD) led by Mr. Fabrice Richy - Director of the French Development Agency in Vietnam had a working session with the leaders of 4 provinces under the Urban Infrastructure Improvement Project to minimize the impact of climate change, including: Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Ninh Binh and Ha Tinh. Attending the working session on the side of Nghe An province was Mr. Huynh Thanh Dien - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee. Also attending were representatives of the Government Office, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning and Investment.

The Urban Infrastructure Improvement Project to Mitigate Climate Change Impacts in Four Provinces has a total investment of over 157 million EUR, of which AFD supports nearly 128 million EUR, the rest is Vietnam's counterpart capital.

The project has three components, including improving environmental sanitation and urban infrastructure; preventing floods and responding to climate change; and managing operations and warning of natural disasters. The project implementation period is from 2018 to 2023.

AFD working group. Photo: Thu Huyen

In Nghe An, the Urban Infrastructure Improvement Project to Mitigate Climate Change Impacts was implemented in Hoang Mai town with a total investment of 31.92 million EUR, of which ODA capital is 24.72 million EUR and counterpart capital is 7.20 million EUR.

Affirming the necessity and urgency of the project, representatives of the project beneficiary provinces hoped that AFD would soon work with the European Union (EU) to get non-refundable aid for the project; support to complete project documents to meet the requirements of the Vietnamese Government and the sponsor. Central ministries and branches will soon review and appraise the project and submit it to the Prime Minister for approval of the investment policy in June 2018. The provinces will closely coordinate to soon complete project documents, design bidding documents, etc.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Huynh Thanh Dien spoke, affirming the urgency of the Urban Infrastructure Improvement Project to minimize the impact of climate change. Photo: Thu Huyen

Speaking at the working session, the delegation of the French Development Agency (AFD) acknowledged the close coordination of the four provinces in implementing the project, and affirmed that this is a top priority project of AFD; therefore, AFD will make additional calculations on hydrology and finance for the project; and develop a dossier to submit to the European Union Technical Council by the end of this year. It is hoped that the central ministries and provinces will soon complete the project documents and receive approval from the Government for the investment policy. The project is expected to start in early January 2019.

A corner of Hoang Mai Town. Photo: Document

On the side of Nghe An province, comrade Huynh Thanh Dien - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee affirmed the important role of Hoang Mai town in the development of Nghe An province and the project implementation is an extremely urgent and necessary requirement.

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also proposed that AFD support Hoang Mai town in implementing the Urban Infrastructure Improvement Project to minimize the impact of climate change, including support in terms of capital, technology, resources and operating conditions of the project, to ensure the project's long-term effectiveness for Hoang Mai town; at the same time, he committed to directing and coordinating with relevant organizations and units to promote steps and implement the project as soon as possible.