On November 10, the Vietnam Water Supply and Sewerage Association organised the opening ceremony of the Vietnam Water Week 2022. The event is organised for three days, from November 9 to 11.

The largest event of Vietnam's Water sector in 2022 is sponsored by the Ministry of Construction (MoC), the Government Portal, and Hanoi People's Committee, and has received support from the leaders of the National Assembly and the government along with ministries and agencies.

More than 700 delegates, who are representatives of state management agencies, foreign agencies in Vietnam, domestic and foreign scientists, business leaders in the sectors of water supply sew wastewater treatment, and environmental sanitation in Vietnam as well as water industry organisations from many countries, have registered to attend and speak at the event, according to updated data of the Vietnam Water Supply and Sewerage Association (WWSA).

WWSA standing vice president Dr. Tran Anh Tuan shared that the event takes place as Vietnam's water sector is facing many challenges, from increasingly high requirements for clean water quality, and safe water supply to meeting the needs of daily life and economic development to the impacts of rapid urbanisation and the pollution, degradation and depletion of water resources due to climate change impacts.

Clean water plants nationwide are currently providing more than 11.2 million cu.m per day, based on the MoC’s data, but only about 15 per cent of wastewater is being treated and that poses a major challenge

To create a legal corridor to help the water sector development with stability and sustainability, the government has included the project to develop the Law on Water Supply and Sewerage for the 2021-2026 term.

“Meanwhile, many important issues of the water sector are subject to overlapping management by other laws such as the Law on Water Resources, the Law on Irrigation, and the Law on Investment,” Tuan said.

At the event, experts discussed the problems of clean water for rural areas, and the gaps that need to be filled to attract the private sector to participate in sewerage and wastewater treatment activities, which requires consultation between water industry enterprises and authorities.

In addition, the representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency shared their experience in supporting Vietnam in developing the Law on Water Supply and Sewerage.

The World Bank issued a series of recommendations for the government and the MoC, as well as the Ministry of Finance (MoF). Notably, the government should complete the revision of legal documents to provide investors with greater assurance of payment for the provision of wastewater collection and treatment.

The World Bank also recommends that the government should authorise the MoF and and the State Securities Commission of Vietnam to pilot the use of corporate and green bonds to borrow domestically and internationally for investment in wastewater collection and treatment and to allow institutional investors, such as insurance companies and pension funds, to participate in this market.

“Exchanges at an open forum such as Vietnam Water Week 2022 are good to promote the creation of a legal corridor for the sustainable development of the water industry,” Tuan said.