A meeting was held in the northern province of Lao Cai on September 13 to review cooperation outcomes with the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) for the 2008-2010 period and to discuss a plan for the 2011-2015 period. In the review period, Lao Cai province and SNV jointly carried out socio-economic development projects, helping to improve local people’s living conditions, and increase access to advanced farming technology. About 85% of households also gained access to clean water. Tourism development assistance activities helped the local people raise their income by 15-20%, combining community-based tourism development and sustainable poverty reduction. Apart from continuing cooperation projects on socio-economic development for the 2011-2015 period, the two sides agreed to engage in a consultancy on clean water supply management and tea development, including a trademark and connectivity model between farmers and the processing and business units. They also agreed to conduct market surveys for travel agencies, in order to meet the demand for community-based tourism. At the meeting, Pham Van Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Lao Cai Province People’s Committee, praised SNV’s cooperation and help over past years and expressed his wish for the organization’s further cooperation in tourism, sustainable agriculture and rural development. (www.vietnamplus.vn [1] Sept 13)
