Promoting cooperation opportunities between Da Nang and USAID

DNO - On the morning of November 15, Chairman of the City People's Committee Le Trung Chinh received and worked with Ms. Aler Grubbs, Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Vietnam.

Chairman of the City People's Committee Le Trung Chinh (right) presents a souvenir to Director of USAID Vietnam Aler Grubbs. Photo: MQ

Chairman of the City People's Committee Le Trung Chinh said that the project "Vietnam Urban Energy Security Technical Assistance in Da Nang " supported by USAID has been completed.

The project includes the following items: supporting Control and Automation Solutions Company Limited (CAS) based in Da Nang to sign a memorandum of understanding with Mobile World Group (MWG) to cooperate in implementing green energy and circular economy projects; implementing capacity building training activities on green bonds, green finance and sustainable finance for banks and financial institutions; and searching for subjects to apply.

Through the process of approaching, exchanging and working, 3 innovative solutions were deployed in Da Nang, which are: ecological electricity meter, smart charging solution for two-wheeled vehicles and charging solution for electric cars.

In addition, USAID is implementing two projects in Da Nang, including: professional training for health workers in therapy and rehabilitation between USAID and Da Nang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy; cooperation in the field of promoting highereducation and improving training quality.

Regarding USAID's opinions, the city's leaders agreed to promote the effectiveness of the three joint projects of the two sides. Da Nang has strengths in information technology and digital transformation, along with a system of high-quality universities to meet the project's requirements.

The Chairman of the City People's Committee assigned the Department of Foreign Affairs to draft a memorandum of understanding between the City People's Committee and USAID, requesting that the sectors carefully study and propose specific contents and programs to deepen cooperation activities.

USAID Vietnam Director Aler Grubbs thanked the City People's Committee for coordinating with USAID to implement many programs in the past, thereby aiming to become a green city by 2030.

USAID cooperates with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the Department of Industry and Trade of Da Nang to implement many programs in the field of environment and energy such as: classifying solid waste, supporting schools to develop green school models, granting clean energy use certificates to a number of export enterprises...

USAID hopes that in the coming time, the city will continue to coordinate, share, and develop ideas, promoting the increasingly close relationship between the two sides, which is a concrete demonstration of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the United States.

It is known that in the past, USAID has funded many projects for Da Nang: cooperating with the Ministry of National Defense to implement "Environmental treatment of dioxin contamination at Da Nang airport" (2012-2018) with a total budget of 41 million USD from the US Government's funding and Vietnam's counterpart fund of 35 billion VND; funding "Comprehensive and integrated program to support people with disabilities in Da Nang city in the period of 2013-2015" with a total budget of 66 billion VND.

In the field of environment and energy, USAID supports Da Nang with 3 environmental protection projects under the Local Works program for the period 2020-2025: joining hands to protect water resources; reducing plastic waste with local solutions; clean city - blue ocean.

In March 2020, USAID selected Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City as target cities for the Urban Energy Security project with a budget allocated to Da Nang of nearly 2.8 million USD.

CINNAMON

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