Belgian Ambassador to Vietnam Paul Jansen made an official visit to Ninh Thuan province during June 23-24 and attended the inauguration of the construction work at Cau Ngoi channel funded by the Belgian and Vietnamese governments. 
The occasion marks the completion of the project on water management and urban development in response to climate change.
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Enabel (Belgian Development Agency) is responsible for implementing all the projects in the bilateral cooperation at governmental level.
In Ninh Thuan, after meeting the local authorities, Ambassador Paul Jansen and the delegation made a site inspection of the recently completed works for the Cau Ngoi flood drainage channel.
An inauguration ceremony took place on-site on the morning of June 24. The occasion also marks the completion of the project on water management and urban development in response to climate change.
Commencing in 2013, this project was resourced with EUR9 million in grant funds from the government of Belgium plus EUR1.6 million from the government of Vietnam. Activities included studies to assess the impact of climate change on river flooding, urban drainage and drought throughout the Dinh river basin.
The results from the studies were integrated into a climate change action plan and water resources plans which underpinned capacity development activities with departmental officers at provincial, district and city levels. Community development and communication activities have raised awareness of climate change and greener approaches to living in many localities throughout the province. In addition to the flood drainage works at Cau Ngoi, funds were also invested to improve domestic water supply in coastal areas.
Valued at VND180 billion (EUR6.7 million), construction of the Cau Ngoi drainage canal is the centerpiece of the project’s investment activities. Of the total amount, VND145 billion (EUR5.4 million) is from Belgian grant funds and VND35 billion (EUR1.3 million) is from counterpart contribution.
The works renovate approximately 7.1 km of previously degraded canal to ensure that the drainage capacity is enhanced. Additionally the canal enhances capacity to deliver irrigation supply to adjacent farms and to dramatically reduce maintenance costs from dredging. In addition to the direct benefices in areas immediately adjacent to the canal, the works improve general condition for livelihoods and economic activity benefiting some 46,000 people in Van Hai ward and Khanh Hai town.
Ambassador Paul Jansen is looking forward to the positive changes brought about by the Belgian-funded projects. He welcomes the close and effective cooperation of the authorities at all levels of Ninh Thuan province throughout the process of project implementation.
Over the last four decades, the Belgian Development Cooperation has supported Vietnam in a number of areas: including infrastructure-focused projects to poverty reduction and social development programs dating back to the 1990s. With Viet Nam's "Doi Moi" policy and opening up, Belgium set its priority on supporting Vietnam in education, public health, water and sanitation. This aimed to tackle possible social vulnerabilities appearing in the process of economic reform. The current Indicative Cooperation Program of EUR58 million focuses on the areas of governance, water management and urban planning in the context of climate change and green growth.
