Lao Cai (VNA) – Canada’s Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai on January 7 visited the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai, where six Canadian government-funded programmes and projects are being implemented.
The programmes and projects focus on developing sustainable livelihoods, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, advancing gender equality, and strengthening climate-change adaptation.
At a meeting the same day with the Canadian official, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Trinh Viet Hung highlighted the province’s strengths and potential in mining, border-gate trade, logistics, and eco-cultural tourism, along with positive gains in local socio-economic development in 2025.
Hung called on the Canadian government to continue providing preferential loans to help Lao Cai roll out disaster prevention and response programmes, develop transport infrastructure, promote climate-resilient and green-growth agriculture and rural development, and strengthen healthcare and education capacity, while also encouraging Canadian companies and investors to explore opportunities and invest in the province.
He said the project on restoring sustainable livelihoods with a gender-responsive focus for northern mountainous provinces affected by Typhoon Yagi, funded by the Government of Canada through the FAO, has been implemented over a nine-month period in multiple communes and wards across Lao Cai province.
The 1.01 million USD project has supported 6,874 households through the distribution of agricultural input vouchers, each worth up to about 3.3 million VND (126 USD), with total disbursements reaching approximately 20.8 billion VND.
In Yen Binh commune alone — covering the former communes of Dai Dong and Tan Huong prior to their merger — 1,177 affected households received assistance, with total funding of around 3.5 billion VND.
Sarai expressed his hope that Canada’s support for Vietnam in general, and for Lao Cai province in particular, would help local residents quickly stabilise their livelihoods.
He affirmed that following this visit, he would share information and help connect Canadian localities and partners to study opportunities, explore cooperation, and implement collaborative activities with Lao Cai, while further enhancing people-to-people exchanges between the two sides.
Later the same day, Sarai and his delegation visited Yen Binh commune and Vinasamex,.JSC, a major producer, trader and exporter of organic cinnamon, anise and spices in Vietnam, located in Tran Yen commune, Lao Cai province./.
