Effectiveness of cooperation projects with Finland in Hai Phong

Finland has effectively supported Hai Phong city with projects in many key areas such as transportation, water supply and drainage, health care and environment.

City leaders work with the Finnish Ambassador to Vietnam (documentary photo)

Collaboration imprint

Over the past 40 years, the cooperative relationship between Hai Phong city and its partners in the Republic of Finland has been continuously strengthened, becoming one of the effective highlights in development cooperation between Vietnam and this Nordic country. Through ODA capital and socio -economic development support programs and projects, Finland has effectively supported Hai Phong in many key areas such as transportation, water supply and drainage, health care, environment, etc.

Since the 1980s, the mark of cooperation was soon formed with the Pha Rung Ship Repair Factory Project (1984), with a total cost of about 46 million USD, contributing to promoting the Hai Phong shipbuilding and repair industry. Next, the Rao 2 Bridge Construction Project (now Vo Nguyen Giap Bridge) - an important infrastructure project with a total cost of nearly 25 million EUR was completed and put into use, creating a modern architectural highlight, promoting urban development, tourism and trade.

Not only stopping at infrastructure, Finnish ODA projects also spread to the fields of health and environment. In the period 2004 - 2017, the city implemented many component projects with a total investment of more than 28 million USD, typically: Project to upgrade medical equipment of Viet Tiep Friendship Hospital (2009); Do Son water supply project (2009). Water and environmental sanitation program for small towns in Vietnam (implemented in 25 towns of 8 northern provinces, including towns in Hai Phong such as: Rainwater drainage project, wastewater in residential areas of Minh Duc town - old Thuy Nguyen district, Water supply project of Tien Lang town - old Tien Lang district, Water supply project of An Lao town - old An Lao district), period 2004 - 2017.

Vo Nguyen Giap Bridge (Rao 2 Bridge) contributes to promoting traffic, urban development, tourism and trade.

The Hai Phong Water Supply and Sanitation Project, phase 1990-2004, with a total capital of about 24 million EUR, contributed to improving water supply infrastructure, ensuring clean water for tens of thousands of households in the inner city. In particular, through the water supply and environmental sanitation program, Finland provided technical support, management, and human resource development for the Hai Phong Water Supply Company. The program was implemented, making an important contribution to improving and stably providing clean water for about 300,000 people in the inner city, while reducing the loss rate from 70% to 30% in the renovated areas.

Evaluating the program, Mr. Cao Van Quy, Deputy General Director of Hai Phong Water Supply Joint Stock Company, said: “The Finnish Government's support program for Hai Phong remains valuable to this day. The management systems and operating procedures established during that period are still effective, becoming an important foundation for the city's water supply industry. Over the years, we only need to upgrade and improve to meet new development requirements and conditions, but basically, the management tools supported by Finland have proven to be scientific, sustainable and effective in practice.

Along with water supply, the drainage sector also has many marks in the development process thanks to the support from the Government of Finland. The Hai Phong Drainage and Sanitation Project (Project 1B) was approved by the Government with a total investment of more than 40.8 million USD, the Government of Finland provided non-refundable aid of 5.8 million USD. The project implementation contributed to cleaning about 130 km of the common drainage system of the inner city, renovating 9,000 manholes, more than 6 km of drainage ditches, 3/13 tide-prevention culverts, 4/10 regulating lakes, building 6 km of new common drainage pipes in areas at high risk of flooding and building a new 22-hectare Phuong Luu lake.

Mr. Pham Quang Quynh, Chairman of Hai Phong Drainage Company, said: Hai Phong Drainage Company has received a lot of cooperation support from the Finnish Government, typically the 1B Drainage Project and the 2 May Den and Vinh Niem rainwater drainage projects with a capacity of 9m3/second. Up to this point, the projects continue to be very effective in preventing flooding and draining water during the rainy and stormy season...

Implementing the Hai Phong Drainage and Sanitation Project (Project 1B), Lam Tuong Lake's environmental sanitation and landscape conditions have been improved.

In Hai Duong, before merging with Hai Phong, there was initial cooperation with Finland in the agricultural sector.

Further expand cooperation

Over four decades of cooperation, bridges, clean water projects, modern hospitals… built with friendship and the spirit of international cooperation have demonstrated the strong relationship between Hai Phong and Finland. This cooperation also shows an effective development model – from ODA support to mutually beneficial cooperation, towards the goal of sustainable development.

In the new period, when Hai Phong is aiming to become the center of industry, trade, services, education - training and innovation of the Northern Coastal region, the city continues to consider Finland as a strategic partner in many fields: from environmental technology, renewable energy, smart urban planning, vocational education, to science - technology and digital transformation.

During the working trip of the Hai Phong City Delegation to Finland in early September 2024, the Delegation met and worked with Finnish enterprises. Here, the enterprises highly appreciated the potential, position, and development of Hai Phong City and wished to cooperate and invest in Hai Phong in the fields of digital transformation, innovation, energy, waste treatment and waste-to-energy, logistics centers, fire prevention and fighting, shipbuilding industry, textiles, etc. At the same time, they learned about the investment attraction policy mechanism, forms of direct investment and joint ventures - cooperation, investment conditions, etc. in Hai Phong.

Hai Phong also hopes that in the coming time, Finnish enterprises will continue to strengthen investment cooperation in Hai Phong city in areas that are strengths of both sides such as: digital infrastructure management, smart lighting, green transportation, smart urban solutions and sustainable development, renewable energy, environmental technology, education, innovation... as well as other investment cooperation.

The achievements over the past 40 years are a solid foundation for the two sides to continue expanding cooperation to a new level – where there is not only capital flow, but also knowledge sharing, experience and vision for sustainable development. The Hai Phong – Finland relationship, from the bright spots in ODA cooperation, is being continued with a new chapter – a chapter of innovation, trust and development for a green, modern and prosperous future.

BUI HANH

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/hieu-qua-nhung-du-an-hop-tac-voi-phan-lan-o-hai-phong-524181.html