On March 21, the Can Tho Department of Construction and the Bureau of Roads and Sewerage of Fukuoka City, Japan, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a technical cooperation project on drainage management. This initiative aims to strengthen Can Tho's resilience to climate change.
The project falls under the Development Partnership Program of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Its funding is a non-refundable grant directly covered by JICA for project activities through Fukuoka City. The Bureau of Roads and Sewerage of Fukuoka will coordinate with the Can Tho Department of Construction to implement the project.
In recent years, Can Tho has proactively implemented various measures to enhance the management and operation of its urban drainage and wastewater treatment systems. However, challenges remain due to funding shortages and limited human resources. The city continues to collaborate with international organizations, including JICA, to explore funding opportunities for implementation.
Representatives of Can Tho City and Fukuoka City signed the project memorandum. Photo: VNACan Tho's leadership emphasize that with Fukuoka City's advanced technologies, efficient management models, and valuable lessons learned, Can Tho gain innovative solutions and experiences to improve its drainage system? This will contribute to a more sustainable living environment for its residents.
Takeshita Kazuhiro, Director of the Bureau of Roads and Sewerage of Fukuoka City reaffirmed Fukuoka's commitment to sharing expertise through the JICA project. He highlighted three key challenges Can Tho is facing: Flood damage and untreated wastewater discharge into public water sources; Inefficient management and operation of existing wastewater treatment plants; Lack of public awareness and cooperation in connecting private drainage systems to the public network.
Therefore, the project aims to enhance flood management and improve Can Tho's water environment.