Delegation of Dien Bien province works with the French Development Agency (AFD)

The delegation from Dien Bien province held a working meeting with the French Development Agency.

At the meeting, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Thanh Do briefly reported on the progress of the implementation of the Nam Rom River Basin Multi-Disaster Management Project and the Dien Bien Phu historical tour route.

Accordingly, the Nam Rom River Basin Multi-Disaster Management Project, aimed at protecting people's lives, adapting to climate change, and promoting socio -economic development in Dien Bien province, is a project using ODA funding from the French Development Agency (AFD) with a total investment of VND 981.028 billion ( equivalent to €36.33 million and USD 42.65 million) . Of this total: ODA funding is 24.65 million Euro; EU grant funding is 1.5 million Euro, and the remaining 10.19 million Euro is counterpart funding . Currently, the project is implementing 6 out of 7 construction packages. Package number 7, river dredging, will be implemented after the embankment construction is completed .

To date, the cumulative volume of construction work completed has reached 24.82 %. The estimated volume of work completed by December 31, 2024, is 41.21% of the contract value. The cumulative allocated capital is VND 686.955 billion . The remaining capital is VND 453.1 billion ; VND 375.83 billion has been disbursed . The project is expected to be completed and handed over for use by the end of 2025.

Comrade Le Thanh Do, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of Dien Bien province, presented a commemorative gift to Ms. Julie Marsaudon, Deputy Director in charge of Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia of the French Development Agency.

Regarding the tour route for exploring the history of Dien Bien Phu, the installation work is currently being completed, with 19 information boards, directional signs, and information systems basically finished. Following an online meeting with the French Embassy in Vietnam and the French Development Agency (AFD), it was agreed to hold the inauguration and handover ceremony on the morning of November 23, 2024, with the participation of the French Embassy in Vietnam and the European Union Ambassador to Vietnam.

Regarding technical support using 1.5 million Euros from the WARM Fund, the component supporting decision-making tools for disaster prevention and mitigation has been studied and completed. It is expected that on November 23rd, Dien Bien province and AFD in Vietnam will co-organize a workshop on climate-resilient urban development for cities in the mountainous regions of Northern and North Central Vietnam. The lighting system for Muong Thanh Bridge, with assistance from the French Development Agency in Vietnam, has been completed and handed over for use since May 5th, 2024. It has added a modern touch and a highlight, contributing to attracting the attention and visits of local people and tourists to Dien Bien. AFD's activities in Dien Bien have yielded practical results in the province's economic, social, and tourism development.

Based on the effective cooperation activities between Dien Bien province and the French Development Agency in the past, Dien Bien province hopes that in the future, the French Development Agency will continue to pay attention to supporting, funding, and providing loans to the province to implement two projects : the Integrated Water Resource Management Project to serve people's livelihoods, adapt to climate change and promote socio-economic development in Tuan Giao district, Dien Bien province, with a total estimated investment of VND 1,389.698 billion (equivalent to €53.321 million), and an expected implementation period from 2026 to 2028; and the Multi-hazard Management Project in the Nam Po River Basin to protect people's livelihoods, adapt to climate change and promote socio-economic development in Nam Po district, Dien Bien province, with a total estimated investment of VND 1,497 billion (equivalent to €54.515 million), and an expected implementation period from 2027 to 2030. At the same time, we will continue to introduce Dien Bien province to investors in France to solicit support and funding for Dien Bien province, contributing to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and France in general and Dien Bien province in particular.

Representatives from the French Development Agency highly appreciated Dien Bien province's cooperation in implementing projects, ensuring construction progress and disbursement according to commitments; the quality of the works and projects has demonstrated economic and social value, contributing to the socio-economic development of the province. The French Development Agency committed to continuing to support and endorse Dien Bien province's proposals and projects.

Source: https://baodienbienphu.com.vn/tin-tuc/doi-ngoai/219698/doan-dai-bieu-tinh-dien-bien-lam-viec-voi-co-quan-phat-trien-phap-afd