ADB Pledges to Continue Green Cities Program in Vietnam

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has pledged to continue the Secondary Cities Development Project II (Green Cities) in Vietnam to ensure environmentally sustainable growth and inclusive economic growth for better regional integration in the Asia-Pacific. ADB will continue to give financial support to Vietnam in implementing green city action plans (GCAPs) in three secondary cities according to an agreement signed with the Vietnamese government in June 2014, Sofia, a specialist at the ADB, said at a meeting with authorities in Vietnam’s central province of Thua Thien-Hue on March 10. The project, which is carried out in three secondary cities in Vietnam such as Ha Giang in the northern province of Ha Giang, Vinh Yen in the northern province of Vinh Phuc and Hue in the Thua Thien-Hue, will focus on urban services, flood protection, urban sewerage, and urban solid waste management. The project is part of effort of cities around Asia and the Pacific which are identifying ways of making their environment healthier and more livable through the improvement of air, water and land. Vietnam is rapidly urbanizing with a structural shift from agriculture to industry and services. The challenge for Vietnam is to maintain its development prospects by minimizing risks associated with urbanization. Adapting infrastructure by building climate resilience in coastal and low-lying areas will safeguard vulnerable populations and productive sectors of the economy, including its natural resources. (Thoi Bao Kinh Te – Vietnam Economic Times Mar 11 p2, adb.org)