JICA Assists Vietnamese Scientists in Water Environment Protection

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) Nov 14 jointly held a conference to improve capacity in water environment protection for the academy. The capacity of the academy’s Institute of Environment Technology (IET) has been much more improved thanks to a technical cooperation project funded by JICA, participants agreed.
The first phase of the project was carried out by the institute in water environment protection in 2004, focusing on boosting capacity for IET staffs on water quality monitoring and analysis. The second phase was carried out from 2007 to 2011 with nearly JPY500 million ($6.49 million) from Japan ODA, aiming to enhance its capacity on water environment analysis and wastewater treatment technology.
With JICA’s assistance, the institute has become a top unit in conducting scientific researches and providing services on environmental protection in Vietnam. The JICA is also mulling over a financial contribution to a project on building a large-scale water purification plant in Hanoi with a total estimated capital of JPY10 billion-JPY20 billion. The facility is designed to produce 150,000cu.m of water in first years, and its capacity will rise to 300,000cu.m by 2020. Japan, Vietnam’s largest bilateral provider of ODA, pledged $1.76 billion out of $7.9 billion in ODA provided by international donors for the country this year. (Quan Doi Nhan Dan – People’s Army Nov 15, dangcongsan.vn Nov 14)