World Bank backs green projects

The World Bank will lend Vietnam US$50 million to build waste water treatment plants and improve environmental policies in industrial zones in four provinces of Vietnam.

The World Bank will lend Vietnam US$50 million to build waste water treatment plants and improve environmental policies in industrial zones in four provinces of Vietnam.
Under the project, at least eight waste water treatment systems are to be built in the provinces of Nam Dinh and Ha Nam in the north, and Dong Nai and Ba Ria Vung Tau in the south, the World Bank announced on Thursday.

The project would also support a comprehensive review of the legal and regulatory framework on pollution management, the bank said.

Funds for the project would come from the World Bank's International Development Association, which aimed to promote environmental sustainability.

Meanwhile, the French Agency for Development will help Vietnam improve teaching and facilities at five vocational training colleges and schools through a loan worth 24.5 million euros ($31.6 million) and a grant of 0.5 million euros ($647,000). The Vietnamese Government will contribute $5.1 million to the project.

Under the agreements signed in Hanoi yesterday, the programme would provide more than 3,000 people each year with courses in welding, telecommunications, automotive technology, metal cutting and electricity.

At present, Vietnam has about 1,200 job training schools and centres. It wants to have 45 per cent of the forecast 60.8 million people of working age trained by 2015 and 55 per cent trained by 2020.