Mr. Jesús Laviña, Deputy Head of Cooperation, representing the EU Delegation to Vietnam delivered a speech at the workshop

On April 16, a workshop initiating a program to enhance climate resilience capacity for the 4 coastal provinces of north-central Vietnam (Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Ha Tinh) was hosted by the EU Delegation to Vietnam, in collaboration with the French Development Agency (AFD), and the People's Committee of Thach Ha district.

The workshop marked the first of 4 events scheduled over two years (2024-2025), as part of the “climate-resilient urban infrastructure in north-central Vietnam” (CRUIV) project.

The CRUIV project supports sub-projects in five districts/towns across the four provinces of the north-central Vietnam, including Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Ha Tinh, focusing on infrastructure development and enhancing climate change adaptation capabilities.

Jointly co-financed with a €5 million grant from the EU, a €123 million ODA loan from the AFD, and €28 million provincial budgets, the CRUIV project will benefit five secondary cities, including: Phat Diem in Ninh Binh province, Ngoc Lac in Thanh Hoa province, Hoang Mai in Nghe An province, Huong Khe and Thach Ha in Ha Tinh province.

During the workshop, Mr. Jesús Laviña, Deputy Head of Cooperation, representing the EU Delegation to Vietnam, expressed that climate change adaptation could not solely rely on infrastructure. He emphasized that the EU's support in the CRUIV Project aimed to promote cooperation and knowledge sharing among key stakeholders, with the goal of enhancing urban services to bolster resilience against the increasingly severe climate-related impacts faced by these provinces.

The workshop provided a special opportunity for officials from the four provinces to exchange ideas and discuss experiences toward the goal of enhancing capacity. Mr. Hervé Conan, Country Director, French Development Agency (AFD), added, "AFD is committed to supporting Vietnam in tackling the challenges of climate change. The CRUIV project, focusing on infrastructure investment and capacity building, best reflects this commitment. We believe that the project will not only improve the lives of local citizens but also serve as a model for climate change resilience initiatives in the future throughout the region."

Asserting a strong commitment to project success, Mr. Nguyen Van Khoa, Chairman of Thach Ha district, highly appreciated the collaboration with AFD and the EU in the CRUIV project, noting that the support and partnership of AFD had helped them envision a sustainable Thach Ha district, adaptable to climate change, and prosperous.

With a focus on infrastructure investment, capacity enhancement, and long-term sustainability, the CRUIV project, supported by AFD and the EU, serves as a cornerstone for development initiatives in Vietnam and other countries facing the challenges of climate change. AFD and the EU look forward to continuing cooperation with Vietnam to build a more sustainable future for all./.