The WB’s project manager, Marc Forni, who led the delegation to the city on November 14, said this was the third project for which the WB had provided official development assistance (ODA) to the city and hailed the efforts made by the city to accelerate the implementation of the project.
Vo Thi Hong Anh, Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Committee, attached significance to the project on reducing the risk of flooding in downtown Can Tho and improving connections between downtown and new urban areas.
She called for more support from the WB for the city in human resources training and enhancing the city’s administration in natural disaster management.
According to Deputy Manager of the ODA project management unit Tran Minh Phat, a number of the project’s contracts have been appraised, including the construction of flood sluices and several bridges.
According to the municipal People’s Committee, the project has received a total investment of US$322 million, of which US$250 million is provided by the WB and US$10 million is non-refundable assistance from Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs.
The project, to be carried out from now until 2021, is expected to benefit nearly 430,000 residents in Ninh Kieu, Binh Thuy and Cai Rang Districts. Nearly one million others in the areas will be protected from flooding during high tides.
