Vietnam Draws $323.21M FDI in Water Supply, Waste Treatment Projects in 2011

Vietnam attracted $323.21 million worth of foreign direct investment (FDI) in three projects on clean water supply and waste treatment in 2011, compared to $9.1 million in 2010. The figure only accounted for 2.19% of the country’s total FDI of $14.69 billion in 2011, showed statistics by the Ministry of Planning and Investment. Vietnam lured $709.88-million FDI in such 27 projects as of Dec 15, 2011, making up 0.36% of total $197.93-billion FDI projects, the ministry added. 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. 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 forecast. Last 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 Jan 3)