Public-Private Partnership model promoted for environmental protection in Ha Noi

Editor's note: The full text of the news article was originally published by the Viet Nam News, The National English Daily

"There are many bad things happening to the environment and we need a proper mechanism so that we can mobilize all resources to deal with them," said Ho Hong Hoa, an economist with the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM).

Mr Hoa spoke at the IUCN-organized meeting about ways to promote PPP in protecting the marine and coastal environment. He said that Viet Nam faced many challenges in protecting its natural and coastal environment, including pollution form the mainland (wastewater and solid waste), over-exploitation of resources, destruction of mangrove forests and coral reefs, climate change, rise in water levels and land erosion.

"At present, the Government has been investing and operating on its own as it copes with all these problems, but it is hampered by scarce resources, reduced ODA, increased public debt, and inefficient operations," he added.

In 2012, over 31,226 tonnes of solid waste was generated everyday and by 2025, the figure is expected to double. The money needed to treat this waste will also increase sharply, from VND30 trillion (US$1.5 billion) in 2012 to VND83.5 trillion ($4 billion) in 2025.

Hoa said the answer to this problem was the PPP model, with relevant authorities cooperating with private partners to provide public services under contracts, sharing responsibility, risks and benefits.

Read more about the challenges in implementing the PPP model from the Viet Nam News, http://vietnamnews.vn/environment/264349/ppp-could-benefit-environmental-protection.html