Water supply, wastewater treatment and investment were the primary talking points at a workshop held in Ho Chi Minh City on November 25 by the Dutch Embassy.

Addressing the event, Ambassador Joop Scheffers said Vietnam lacks sustainable development in the field and the country meets with many difficulties in developing water supply and wastewater treatment systems as well as attracting investment.

He suggested that Vietnam take long-term measures within the next 10-15 years, adding that his country is willing to share its experience with Vietnam.

The Netherlands relies on private companies in sewage treatment and water supply, and Vietnam should also encourage the involvement of the private sector, Scheffers stressed.

According to the Technical Infrastructure Department (TID) under the Ministry of Construction, Vietnam is facing challenges in the development of water supply and drainage and the wastewater treatment sector.

The sector needs a lot of investment to develop effectively and sustainably, especially in urban areas.

However, the investment for the field is only from official development assistance (ODA) resources and the State budget. The participation of the private sector remains limited.

To solve the situation, Vietnam’s authorities plan to issue policies to promote the involvement of the whole of society to invest in the sector, said TID Deputy Director Nguyen Tuong Van.

The country will also encourage enterprises to implement research and technology innovation, focusing on using green technology in water resources management, sustainable wastewater management and civil and industrial water supply, thus improving their capacity in providing services in the sector, Van added.

At the workshop, domestic and foreign experts working in the field shared their experiences in water supply and environment in Vietnam, while mapping out measures to attract further investment.

They also proposed Vietnam apply the public-private partnership model in the field.-VNA