Promoting bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Korea in the field of water supply and drainage

On November 27^th, in Vinh Phuc, the Korea Environmental Technology and Industry Institute (KEITI, under the Korean Ministry of Environment) coordinated with the Department of Technical Infrastructure (Ministry of Construction) to organize a bilateral meeting between the Korean Ministry of Environment and the Vietnamese Ministry of Construction on promoting the development of the Water industry.

Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Tuong Van delivered a speech.

The meeting aims to exchange information and technology in the field of technical infrastructure; Plan to implement cooperation activities in the field of water and waste management, ecological urban dvelopment; Develop joint projects in the field of circular economy and water supply treatment systems, wastewater treatment, rainwater collection and reuse; Promote education, research and capacity development in the field of water supply, drainage, wastewater treatment; Support management tools and software, build a database of water supply and drainage; Evaluate some shortcomings in water supply and drainage management as well as propose solutions for improvement...

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Tuong Van said that the water supply and drainage management and development and urban wastewater treatment in Vietnam in recent years has achieved certain results. However, those fields still face difficulties and challenges in investment and management of rural water supply development. Investment capital for drainage and waste treatment mainly comes from ODA sources, not commensurate with actual needs due to the huge investment capital. Low prices for drainage and waste treatment services have not created motivation to mobilize private investment...

In order to sustainably develop water supply and drainage in Vietnam and address shortcomings in water supply and drainage management, the Ministry of Construction has reported to the Government on research, review, and development a draft Law on Water Supply and Drainage.

The Prime Minister issued Decision No. 568/QD-TTg dated June 26, 2024 assigning the Ministry of Construction to draft the Law on Water Supply and Drainage, to submit to the Government in January 2025, and to the National Assembly Standing Committee in March 2025... Deputy Minister Nguyen Tuong Van affirmed that many technical infrastructure projects, especially water supply and drainage projects, implemented with the support and cooperation of Korea have contributed to promoting the cooperative relationship between the two Governments in recent times...

The Ministry of Construction highly appreciated the effective support of the Korean Ministry of Environment, the Korean Government and relevant Korean agencies to further develop the water supply and drainage sector in Vietnam; and deployed cooperation in the coming time for projects such as: Research on management processes, operation of drainage and wastewater treatment systems...

Deputy Minister of Korean Ministry of Environment Ahn Se Chang spoke at the meeting.

Korean Deputy Minister of Environment Ahn Se Chang expressed his joy to attend the bilateral meeting between the Korean Ministry of Environment and the Vietnamese Ministry of Construction to promote the development of the Water sector. He also said that the Vietnam-Korea cooperation relationship has continuously developed extensively in all fields over the years, from politics, diplomacy to economics, science and technology, culture, sports, tourism and environment. In particular, the two countries have had strong cooperation in the field of water supply and drainage, for example, the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Korean Ministry of Environment and the Vietnamese Ministry of Construction signed in November 2023.

Deputy Minister Ahn Se Chang desired that in the coming time, the two sides will actively and effectively cooperate in activities related to water supply, drainage, wastewater treatment... thereby being able to move towards cooperation in implementing projects under the PPP form in some localities of Vietnam such as Hai Phong, Hai Duong...

Korea has a lot of experience in the field of water supply and drainage; therefore, it will support Vietnam in implementing activities of the water sector, sharing Korea's experiences and policies, identifying existing problems and proposing appropriate solutions and policies for Vietnam's water sector; contributing opinions to the draft Law on Water Supply and Drainage of Vietnam...

 Delegates took a photo.

At the bilateral meeting, delegates listened to experts and officials from units, enterprises and associations in the field of water supply and drainage in Vietnam and Korea who present their speeches on issues related to the water supply and drainage in Vietnam, Wastewater drainage system in Korea - Experience and recommendations; Trends and experiences in water supply management in Korea; water supply and drainage technical standards and support policies for the water industry in Korea; Current status and effectiveness of support projects related to the water industry...

Delegates shared, exchanged and discussed experiences on applying information and technology in the field of technical infrastructure; water and waste management; reducing operating costs of human resources in the field of water supply, drainage, wastewater treatment; management tools and software, building database in the water supply and drainage system.

Overview the meeting.