Germany assists VN’s sustainable urban development
VGP - A forum on sustainable urban development was jointly held by Germany’s Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and Việt Nam’s Ministry of Construction in Hà Nội yesterday, marking a new advance in bilateral cooperation, especially in the field of sewage and garbage treatment.
The forum provides opportunities for policy makers, urban managers, urban sanitary and environment companies to discuss with German experts issues relating to urban sanitation and waste management.
The forum attracted representatives from Việt Nam’s Ministry of Construction, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and other organizations such as the German Technical Cooperation Organization (GTZ), German Bank for Reconstruction (KfW), German Development Agency (DED) and the Capacity Building International (InWent).
Addressing the forum, German Parliamentary State Secretary Karin Kortmann reiterated her Government commits to assist Việt Nam in implementing the millennium development goals. She described sewage and garbage management as one of priorities in development cooperation.
According to Ms. Kortmann, shortcomings or shortages in sewage management will lead to the outbreak of preventable contagious diseases. The removal of these shortcomings will not only help protect the environment and contain diseases but also bring about positive economic effects.
Germany is carrying out projects on water supply, drainage and sanitation in six towns of Việt Nam and a project on industrial park sewage treatment.
Germany and Việt Nam started bilateral cooperation in sewage and wastes management in 2002. To date, Germany has contributed nearly €150 million to building drainage systems and sewage treatment factories in nine cities as well as dumping grounds in two other cities in Việt Nam.
By Ngọc Vân
