A technical assistance project for establishing Vietnam’s green city master plan, funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), kicked off in Hanoi on July 7.

According to Deputy Minister of Construction Phan Thi My Linh, the USD 6.5 million project will make contributions to Vietnam’s sustainable development through enhancing the Vietnamese Government’s capacity in green urban planning.

At the ceremony to launch the projec

It will be implemented over 29 months in Hanoi, Yen Binh district (Thai Nguyen province) and Rach Gia city (Kien Giang province), she noted.

Under an agreement signed between KOICA and the construction ministry, the two sides will join hands to develop a set of green city indexes and a Green City Planning Decision Support System (GDSS), while recommending a legal framework for green city planning for the country. The GDSS will be set up in the three pilot localities.

Together with providing green urban planning courses for officials, the project also offer software and relevant equipment in the field.

Head of KOICA’s Vietnam office Jang Jae Yoon said that 50 percent of the world’s population now resides in urban areas, placing a burden on Governments to address environmental issues.

Vietnam is also facing various urban problems like infrastructure shortages and environment degradation, he highlighted, adding that a green growth strategy must be in harmony with economic and environmental development targets.

KOICA will propose a legal framework for green city planning and suitable green urban indexes as well as help Vietnam identify suitable green urban models, he added.

Source: VNA