MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
AusAID
Today, the Australian Government has the pleasure of witnessing the successful
completion of the Five Towns Water Supply Project, a joint initiative
by the Governments of Australia and Viet Nam.
The project has helped 400,000 people living in five provincial towns to access
a clean, safe and continuous water supply and to have improved sanitation.
The towns of Bac Ninh and Bac Giang in North Viet Nam, Ha Tinh in the center
and Tra Vinh and Vinh Long in South Viet Nam now enjoy clean water and will
continue to do so as the population increases.
The Five Towns Water Supply Project was funded with $51 million from
the Australian Government Overseas Aid Program, managed by AusAID, and $20 million
from the Government of Viet Nam.
The Director General of AusAID, Mr Bruce Davis, today attended the handover
ceremony of the project in Hanoi.
Not only will 400,000 people reap the social and economic benefits of a safe
and continuous water supply, but the project has exceeded expectations with
the high level of household connections, high consumer awareness of water quality
and sanitation and a direct reduction in the incidence of water borne diseases,
Mr Davis said.
Clearly, this project is an excellent example of what can be achieved with
good cooperation between our Governments. In fact, Australia and Viet Nam have
a strong history of cooperation in water supply since the 1970's.
Our Governments agree that access to safe and sustainable water supplies and
sanitation is critical to our common goal of reducing poverty, he said.
Australia will provide further support for operations and maintenance of town
water supplies over the next year following formal completion of the project.
This will consolidate and expand on maintenance training already developed and
will help ensure that the water supply systems are viable and sustainable in
the longer term.
HANOI, VIET NAM
Media contacts:
Bruce Davis or Shireen Sandhu: (Australian Embassy, Vietnam) 0011 84 4 831
7755/ 090 442 031
Fionna Douglas (AusAID Canberra) 02 6206 4960 / 0412 804 489