Can Tho (VNA) – Representatives from the World Bank (WB) and the Swiss Government had a working session with the People’s Committee of Can Tho city on April 2 to discuss the implementation of the Can Tho urban development and resilience enhancement project (Project 3), which has already protected over 442,600 local residents from flooding.
The project had a total investment of nearly 9.2 trillion VND (over 402 million USD), with WB loans worth nearly 5.7 trillion VND, non-refundable aid from the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research totaling 10 million USD, and corresponding fund of more than 3.37 trillion VND VND. The project, implemented from 2016 to 2024, aims to protect Can Tho's urban core from prolonged flooding while promoting environmentally friendly urban development.
According to director of Can Tho's Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects management board Bui Thai Thuong, under the project, flood protection infrastructure has been improved, including embankments, tidal sluice gates, and pumping stations. Additionally, urban transport infrastructure has been developed under the project.
At the meeting, WB Country Director for Vietnam Mariam J. Sherman urged Can Tho city to ensure the project's sustainable operation to promote local socio-economic development and multiply its experiences to other localities, noting that the WB not only provides financial support but also global technical expertise through its partners.
Meanwhile, Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam Thomas Gass expressed his delight at the success of the project, helping Can Tho develop infrastructure and improve flood control while building a smart, future-oriented city with effective water and flood risk management and climate change adaptation.
For his part, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thuc Hien stressed that the project has received strong support from residents, especially those living in previously flooded areas, allowing them to confidently engage in business activities and contribute to the city's socio-economic development.
Hien hoped that experts will regularly visit to inspect the operation of the project’s technology system and support upgrades to more advanced equipment in the future, serving the development of the city and Vietnam as a whole./.
VNA
