Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam Elsbeth Akkerman (second from left) and Politburo member Nguyen Thien Nhan, Secretary of the HCM City Party Committee (R) (Photo: sggp.org.vn)HCM City (VNA) – Authorities of Ho Chi Minh Cityhad a meeting with Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam Elsbeth Akkerman and Dutchexperts on October 28 to discuss the Netherlands’ suggestion for cooperation insustainable flood prevention for the southern economic hub.
At the meeting, Dutch experts presented the solution, whichis in the form of a public-private partnership project.
Accordingly, the private sector will engages in theconstruction and maintenance of flood prevention facilities, while theGovernment will issue policies and mechanisms to ensure the investors’ incomesfor their operations in the work. As a result of the partnership, the city willhave a sustainable system at a reasonable cost.
Experts suggested the hub build tidal barrage, multifunctionaldyke, drainage canal, and multi-purpose rainwater collecting systems to protectDistrict 2 and District 9. Along such systems, facilities that create incomesfor investors, including golf courses, parking areas, stores, entertainmentcentres, will be constructed.
The entire project is estimated to cost about 1.26 billionUSD, they said.
Director of the municipal Construction Department Le HoaBinh and Director of the municipal Department of Natural Resources andEnvironment Nguyen Toan Thang highlighted the necessity of the project.
Politburo member Nguyen Thien Nhan, Secretary of themunicipal Party Committee, thanked the goodwill of the diplomat and the DutchConsulate General in helping the city handle flooding.
He agreed to organise an event for Dutch experts to reporttheir solution to local public agencies and sectors and urged relevant agenciesto further study the suggestion and propose suitable follow-ups to the city’sleaders.
Nhan affirmed Vietnam and HCM City highly value cooperativeties with the Netherlands and that the city is attentive to the Europeancountry’s experience in water management, climate change adaptation, smart citybuilding and artificial intelligence.
Elsbeth Akkerman suggested the city boost collaboration withDutch partners in sustainable smart city development. She said she believes theNetherlands with its experience will help the city tackle its challenges tobecome a worth-living location./.
VNA
