KfW Development Bank delegation pays working visit to Son La

A delegation from Germany’s KfW Development Bank led by portfolio manager Thomas Rival and senior engineer Hans Christian Traute on May 20 held a working session with the People’s Committee of Son La province regarding the Son La city drainage and wastewater treatment system project.

Welcoming the delegation were Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Le Hong Minh, and representatives from provincial departments and the Son La city People’s Committee.

The KfW Development Bank delegation works with the Son La provincial People's Committee.

Phase 1b of the project has seen its total adjusted investment increased by over 208 billion VND (8 million USD), coming from the official development assistance (ODA) of the German and Swiss Governments, along with reciprocal funding from Vietnam’s state budget.

The project includes two major components: rehabilitation and upgrading of eight roads and associated stormwater drainage systems; and expansion of the wastewater collection pipeline network, increasing service coverage by approximately 3,650 additional households.

After five years of implementation, the project is now basically complete. The quality of construction meets all required standards, and the drainage and wastewater treatment systems are operating continuously and effectively. The treated wastewater meets Grade A standards under QCVN 40:2011/BTNMT (Vietnam’s environmental standards).

Since 2024, 3,263 new households have connected to the wastewater system, raising the total number to approximately 8,668 households.

 

Thomas Rival, a representative from the KfW Development Bank, speaks at the working session.

Speaking at the meeting, Thomas Rival commended Son La province for its effective leadership in implementing the project, highlighting the competence, accountability, progress, and quality of execution. He also offered suggestions and assessments to help ensure the project achieves its intended goals and maximises long-term investment efficiency.

Minh expressed his gratitude to the KfW delegation for their support in helping Son La complete the project on schedule and to a high standard. He noted that the project has contributed significantly to improving the urban environment and aligning with urban classification criteria for a tier-2 city.

He affirmed that Son La will continue public awareness campaigns to encourage more residents to connect to the wastewater system, thereby maximising its capacity and effectiveness. He also requested that KfW continue to support the provincial ODA Project Management Unit in final evaluations to ensure the project is completed in compliance with all regulations.

 

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