A corner of Thai Nguyen City
The funding will also support improvements in the city’s urban planning and management, including climate change and disaster risk considerations.
The Dynamic City Integrated Development Project will directly benefit more than 81,000 residents of Thai Nguyen City by reducing travel time through improved transport connectivity; and enhancing urban environmental sanitation through improved drainage and sewer system, particularly in flood-prone areas.
The project will also improve child care services through new and rehabilitated kindergartens and quality of life through improved public spaces. The project will help Thai Nguyen city improve local authorities’ capacity by providing technical assistance for integrated strategic urban planning, public transport planning and sustainable asset management.
According to WB Country Director to Vietnam, Ousmane Dione, the proposed project is expected to not only support Thai Nguyen City in improving basic infrastructure but also help the city to develop a comprehensive and integrated urban plan that links physical development to overall improvements to socio-economic conditions.
“As one of the key centres and economic engines of the Northern Mountainous Region, Thai Nguyen City is undergoing rapid urbanisation, and thus urgently needs improved urban infrastructure services,” he said. “The successful implementation of this project may be replicated to other medium cities in support of the government’s urban development agenda.”
The Vietnam National Urban Development Master Plan envisages the development of secondary cities as hubs to drive development within larger urban areas and provinces. This is consistent with international experience, where there is growing recognition of the role of secondary cities as catalysts for economic activity and development.
Thai Nguyen City is one of the cities proposed by the Vietnamese government to receive support based on their economic growth potential. The project is consistent with the World Bank’s Country Partnership Framework as it will contribute to strengthening urban planning and management, support resilient urban infrastructure investments, and improve disaster risk management.
The total project costs are estimated at US$100 million, of which USD80 million will be financed by the International Development Association Transitional Support Window and USD20 million of counterpart funding from the provincial government.
