Vietnam Environment Administration (VEA) and Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) held a meeting in Hanoi on Apr. 26 to assess results of a project called, “Vietnam Provincial Environment Governance” (VPEG).

Launched in 2008, the project has been carried out in several provinces and cities, including Bac Ninh, Hanoi, Hai Duong, Binh Duong, Long An, Quang Ngai, Soc Trang and Da Nang.

Bui Cach Tuyen, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) , who is also Director of the project management board, said thanks to the close coordination among related agencies, the project has achieved initial results.

He said MONRE has coordinated with other agencies to build policies of industrial pollution management, which have been applied in the project’s provinces. The project has helped increase effectiveness of expenditure for industrial pollution management (IPM).

All provinces engaging in the project have conducted the IPM programme in an effective and sustainable manner, focusing on pollution in industrial zones, trade villages and interregional pollution.

Le Ke Son, VEA Vice Director and project director, said in the next year of implementation, the project will consist of five major components, aiming to make environmental law and policies, assisting provinces in technology and managing expenditure as well as in project management.

Implemented under the agreement of the Governments of Vietnam and Canada for the 2008-2013 period, the project focuses on building capacity of local levels to address industrial pollution issues.

The project also supports MONRE in improving effectiveness of IPM policies and regulatory frameworks.-VNA