HCM City enhances ties with French development agency

HCM City (VNA) – Standing Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem discussed directions for cooperation between the city and the French Development Agency (AFD) with Director of AFD in Vietnam Fabrice Richy at a meeting on March 5.

On the occasion, Liem thanked the AFD for providing credit for the city since 2005 to implement projects on education, healthcare, housing for middle-income earners and building capacity for local officials. He named some of the typical projects such as the construction of Hiep Phuoc port, the hospital of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, and the waste treatment facility No.2 in northwest Cu Chi.

The official said the city is implementing its scheme on building a smart city, and it hopes for AFD’s technical and financial assistance in this field.

 He welcomed the AFD’s suggestion on cooperation on clean water management, flood control and handling environmental pollution.

Fabrice Richy expressed satisfaction at the effectiveness of AFD-funded projects in HCM City and affirmed that the agency wants to enhance its partnership with the city.   

He shared that the AFD is prioritising projects on climate change and social connectivity in providing financial support in the form of long-term loans accompanied by grants. He said the agency is ready to finance projects related to water resources and sustainable urban development, such as clean water management, waste water treatment and urban transport.

Nearly one third of Vietnam’s population (nearly 30 million) have benefited from projects funded by the AFD since 1994, which helped upgrade roads, supply clean water and support agricultural development.-VNA