WB, Switzerland help boost Viet Nam’s sustainable urban development

Swiss Ambassador to Viet Nam Thomas Gass (L), and World Bank Country Director for Viet Nam, Cambodia and Lao PDR, Mariam J. Sherman, at the signing ceremony of the Viet Nam Accelerating Green and Resilient Growth in Large Cities Single-Donor Trust Fund, Ha Noi, November 4, 2024 - Photo: VGP

The US$5 million grant initiative, financed by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), aims to strengthen the ongoing partnership between Switzerland and the WB in advancing sustainable urban development in Viet Nam.

"This grant enables us to support continued dialogue to integrate sustainable practices within the city's urban planning and economic policies, building a model for climate-resilient, and low-carbon urban development", said Mariam J. Sherman, WB Country Director for Viet Nam, Cambodia and Lao PDR.

"The funding will deepen our engagement with Viet Nam's largest cities, particularly Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Can Tho, as they advance toward a vision of green growth", she added.

The Viet Nam Accelerating Green and Resilient Growth in Large Cities Single-Donor Trust Fund aims to help large Vietnamese cities grow more sustainably while managing the increasing risks and mitigating the future impacts of climate change.

Under this program, the WB will develop a knowledge base of technical and operational best practices, drawing on international expertise adapted to the local context, to provide strategic solutions for urban challenges.

The program will also strengthen policy-making capacity and support cities and national agencies in mobilizing and diversifying financial resources for investment projects while promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing.

This partnership reflects Switzerland's commitment to sustainable urban development in Viet Nam, said Thomas Gass, Swiss Ambassador to Viet Nam.

"By combining Swiss financing with WB knowledge, we aim to help Vietnamese cities achieve their green growth objectives while building resilience against climate challenges", he stated.

Switzerland and the WB have been long-term strategic partners in supporting urban development in Viet Nam.

This initiative builds on previous successful collaborations, including one that established the country's first flood risk management system in Can Tho City.

The impact of these joint efforts extends beyond Viet Nam, shaping the WB's Sustainable Urban and Regional Development Program and City Resilience Program, both of which are also financed by Switzerland at the global level./.