On February 6, in Hanoi, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep had a reception and working session with Ms. Stafaine Stallmeister, Acting Executive Director of the World Bank (WB) in Vietnam. The two sides discussed the Plan to ensure water security and the World Bank's support in implementing the master plan "Ensuring Water Security, Dam and Reservoir Safety until 2030, around Looking to 2045”.
At the meeting, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep said: Vietnam has grown from a food-insecure country to one of the world's leading agricultural exporters. Agricultural export turnover in 2022 will reach over 53 billion USD. This achievement is thanks to Vietnam's systematic and synchronous investments in agricultural infrastructure, mainly water resources.
Vietnam is currently facing major challenges such as natural disasters and major market fluctuations. Therefore, Vietnam urgently needs fundamental, long-term solutions. This is shown in the master plan "Ensuring Water Security, Dam and Reservoir Safety by 2030, vision to 2045".
According to WB experts, the water sector plays an important role in solving the challenges of the agricultural sector. Water security is the maintenance of water sources, ensuring water source quality, ensuring water resources are used effectively, mainly in the agricultural sector, ensuring there is enough water supply for urban and agricultural areas. villages, adapting to climate change.
Ms. Stafaine Stallmeister expressed her desire for the WB to join the Vietnamese government in implementing the master plan "Ensuring Water Security, Dam and Reservoir Safety until 2030, with a vision to 2045", bringing water cooperation to new heights with the most effective support, ensuring sustainable development.
According to Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep, to ensure water security, Vietnam's experience is not enough, Vietnam needs experience from other countries in the world. It is necessary to ensure institutional synchronization between the central government and local governments and regional institutions. It is necessary for the private sector to invest in water resources.
Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep said: It is necessary to communicate fully and synchronously so that all levels, sectors and people understand the true meaning of water source security, and communication to change perceptions about water source security. Each audience has different approaches and different media. Media plays a big role in ensuring water security.
According to WB experts, Vietnam and the WB can organize a high-level dialogue to share experiences, challenges, and ways to implement international experiences in ensuring water security in Vietnam. Implementing low-emission agricultural production also helps ensure water security.
The two sides agreed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the World Bank could establish a joint working group on water resources, and proceed to sign the Water Sector Cooperation Strategy in Vietnam on institutional issues, information and communication, rural clean water with appropriate cooperation contents and specific implementation plans.
Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
