Vietnam HCM City Seeks Japanese ODA for Water Supply Projects

Ho Chi Minh City wants the Japanese government will provide more official development assistance (ODA) capitals for its clean water supply projects, Vice Mayor Le Minh Tri said at a meeting with Mayor of Japan’s Osaka City Mikio Araki on Oct 28. Clean water is among the major issues that HCM City’s authorities pay much attention to with an aim to serve locals’ daily life and production. HCM City is forecast to need nearly $4 billion for fresh water supply project, aiming to benefit 92% locals by 2015 and 100% by 2025, compared the current rate of over 83%, Tri was quoted by the Vietnam News Agency as saying late Oct 28. Tri added, the Japanese ODA-funded investment projects have considerably contributed to socioeconomic development of HCM City over the past years. Ho Chi Minh City expects to benefit 1.07 million families in 22 out of 24 districts, equaling to 85% of the city’s total population, by the year-end. (Vietnamplus.vn Oct 28)