JICA Pledges to Keep Funding for World Heritage Site in Central Vietnam

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has said that it would continue providing official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam for cultural preservation and hygiene projects in one of the world’s heritage sites. Mori Mutsuya, chief representative of JICA in Vietnam, said at a meeting with Nguyen Van Cao, chairman of Thua Thien-Hue provincial People’s Committee on Aug. 14 that JICA will offer loans socio-economic development, education, healthcare, forestry protection and environment protection. Of the projects, a water drainage and wastewater treatment project in the south of Huong river by 2020 costing VND4.2 trillion ($19.3 million) will complete water drainage systems in Hue city where is home to Hue ancient citadel recognized by the UNESCO in 1993. The project is part of the major fields that JICA has funded since Japan assumed granting ODA for Vietnam since 1992. (Thoi Bao Kinh Te Vietnam – Vietnam Economic Times Aug 17 p3)