Water: Key Cooperation between Vietnam & Netherlands

The Netherlands has a strong water sector, with a great deal of knowledge and expertise. The ambition of the Netherlands is to be and remain a world leader in the field of water, as is evident, for example, in the efforts of the cabinet in naming “water” as one of the government’s priority areas. There are about 2000 Dutch companies active in water management and delta technology worldwide, employing over 80,000 Dutch men and women at home and abroad. One-third of the global water market involves delta technology in which the Netherlands holds a 6 percent share.

 

At the request of Vietnam, the Netherlands has been cooperating on an action plan for water management in the Mekong Delta in order to stay ahead of the consequences of climate change. The plan not only involves water security in relation to climate change, but also water and food supply, water and the natural environment, drinking water and sanitation, and the organisation of the water chain.

 

Vietnam would like to use Dutch knowledge and experience in the field of water management to protect the Mekong Delta from the consequences of climate change. In addition, Vietnam is on its way to become a developed country, cooperation is particularly focused on sharing knowledge concerning climate adaptation and water management and strengthening the position of the Dutch water sector.

 

In October 2010, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his counterpart Balkenende of the Netherlands signed an agreement which involved, among other things, plans for the Netherlands to collaborate on drawing up an action plan for water management in the Mekong Delta. During the visit of the Royal Highness the Prince and the Princess of the Netherlands to Vietnam from 28-31 March 2011, on behalf of the Netherlands, State Secretary Atsma acted as chair of the first meeting of the Vietnam-Netherlands Intergovernmental Steering Committee that will make further agreements about this cooperation with the ministers directly involved and the city council of Ho Chi Minh City. At the meeting, both sides discussed cooperation on the Mekong Delta Plan, specifically the cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and Rotterdam, the sharing of knowledge and the removal of any obstacles to trade so that companies from the water sector can get to work in Vietnam easily. Some 30 representatives from leading companies and knowledge institutions visited Vietnam in the end of March in order to intensify the cooperation.

 

The Netherlands and Vietnam are both among the world’s most vulnerable deltas. Both countries are densely populated and lie largely below or at sea level. Future climate change could lead to a rise in sea level of up to one metre in Vietnam; flooding in the rainy season will increase while there will be water shortages during dry periods. The expectation is that by 2050, 8.4 million Vietnamese will face water shortage. These are serious threats for the more than 20 million inhabitants of the Mekong Delta, as well as for agriculture and industry that are developing at a fast pace. In addition to the need for coastal defences, delta areas in particular will be faced with a significant increase in the demand for fresh water, due to the increase in population and the growth of the economy, and at the same time, a reduction in supply due to the impact of climate change. Clean freshwater will become scarce. The Netherlands is, therefore, arguing for cooperation between deltas so that both countries can share knowledge and experience.

 

On April 30, 2011, Mr Nguyen Trung Tin, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh People's Committee (mayor and aldermen) and Alexandra van Huffelen, Alderwoman of Rotterdam for Sustainability, the City Centre and Outside Spaces, signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the presence of the Prince of Orange, Princess Maxima and State Secretaries Bleker and Atsma. The signing marks the start of intense cooperation in the field of sustainability and the climate-resistant development of the city and port of Ho Chi Minh City. Like Rotterdam, Ho Chi Minh City is a densely populated delta city with a large port that plays a vital role in the national economy. Economic development and the fast growing population are leading to an increasing need for space. The city’s location in the delta is already causing flooding problems which will become greater due to climate change. These challenges demand a sustainable development strategy.

 

In 2009, Ho Chi Minh City indicated that it had a need for the knowledge and experience of the Rotterdam climate change programme “Rotterdam Climate-proof” (part of the Rotterdam Climate Initiative). By linking the effects of climate change to innovative spatial planning solutions, promising strategies have emerged in Rotterdam that can also be applied in the world’s other delta cities.

 

In addition, with the Maasvlakte 2 project, Rotterdam has gained a wealth of experience in relocating port-related activities towards the sea and in the redevelopment of inner-city port areas. With the signing of the cooperation agreement, in the years ahead, Ho Chi Minh City will develop an adaptation programme based on this Rotterdam approach. The essence of this approach is to look at climate change as an opportunity for creating an attractive and economically strong city. From this point of view, a long-term strategy will be drawn up that will be translated into shorter term measures with local socio-economic opportunities.

 

At the same time, The Dutch government has asked Mr Cees Veerman (former chair of the Delta Committee that advised the Dutch government on how it should keep the Netherlands safe and sustain the freshwater supply ) to direct the development of the Mekong Delta Plan. The Vietnamese government has asked Mr Cees Veerman to be its special adviser in the field of water.