At the review conference (Source:baolaocai.com)The French Development Agency (AFD) aided over 20 million EUR from 2008 to September 2015 to help northern Lao Cai province improve infrastructure and protect environment.
The money was spent on building and upgrading 305 km of roads in rural areas and the public lighting system, constructing waste treatment facilities, and developing ecological tourism in Sa Pa, Bac Ha and Si Ma Cai districts.
The provincial People’s Committee and the French agency co-organised a conference in the locality to review the seven-year programme in Lao Cai on October 5.
In August 2008, the AFD pledged a non-refundable aid package worth 0.8 million EUR and an over 20-million-EUR loan to help Lao Cai to implement projects improving rural infrastructure in Sa Pa, Bac Ha and Bat Xat districts and developing eco-tourism at Hoang Lien national park.
Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Doan Van Huong proposed the AFD consider the disbursement deadline of the projects to June 30 next year and expand to other local districts.
The French agency is also expected to further support Lao Cai to build socio-economic development plans and strategies in the middle and long run, focusing on Sa Pa, Bac Ha and Bat Xat districts and Lao Cai city in green urban development, ecological tourism, environmental protection, climate change adaptation, and natural disasters risks mitigation, he said.
The same day, a waste treatment and recycling factory, the largest of its kind in the northwest region, was inaugurated in the local Dong Tuyen commune.
The factory was built with a total investment of 81.25 billion VND (3.57 million USD), 66.3 billion VND (2.95 million USD) of which came from AFD loans.-VNA
