Israel to Help Vietnam HCM City Improve Water Management

Israeli firms will assist Ho Chi Minh City to train experts and officials in the fields of water management and wastewater treatment, Nguyen Thanh Tai, vice-chairman of the municipal People’s Committee said. Tai released the information at the reception of a group of the six Israeli companies during their three-day visit started on Oct 18 to seek partners and investment chances in Vietnam in the fields of providing technologies of wastewater treatment, desalination and water management. Authorities of HCM City and the Israeli Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the cooperation on Oct 19, Tai was quoted by the Thoi Bao Kinh Te Sai Gon newspaper as saying. Under the MoU, a number of conferences, exhibitions and training courses related to the issue will be held in both the southern economic hub and Israel, aiming to facilitate the cooperation of both sides. The municipal officials and experts working in the water sector also plan to make fact-finding trips to Israel to learn about advanced technologies in the fields. HCM City is very keen on successes and experiences that Israel has gained in the effective management of water resources, Tai said, admitting that his city is facing a lack of clean water and infrastructure and technology facilities. Tai added providing sufficient water for the 10 million locals for daily use and production demand is not only a matter of life but also an issue of security amid the global climate change. (Thoi Bao Kinh Te Sai Gon – Saigon Times Daily Oct 19, Vietnamplus.vn Oct 19)