Vietnam Attracts $322.71M FDI in Water, Waste Projects in Jan-Aug

Vietnam is estimated to have attracted $322.71 million worth of foreign direct investment (FDI) in two projects on clean water supply and waste treatment between Jan and Aug. The figure accounts for 3.37% of the country’s total FDI of $9.57 billion during the period, showed statistics by the Ministry of Planning and Investment. Currently, untreated waste is regarded a pressing issue in Vietnam with 40% of toxic waste are not properly treated and the rest is being buried and recycled illegally, threatening the environment and public health, experts said. Currently, the country is estimated to have more than one million tons of toxic waste, mainly from production facilities, craft villages and health centers. Up to 50 tons of hazardous medical solid waste will be discharged per day by 2015 at medical centers and hospitals. The figure is expected to reach 90 tons by 2025, the health ministry predicted. Late May, the prime minister adopted a program on solid waste treatment in the 2011-2020 period, under which 90% of total industrial solid waste and 100% of non-toxic medical solid waste will be collected and treated by 2020. (www.mpi.gov.vn Aug 30)