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| The Vice Chairman expressing his hope that the ‘Hue City Community-Based Waste Reduction and Sorting System Development Support’ project would be expanded to benefit more communities |
At the meeting, KEAA representatives introduced the ‘Hue City Community-Based Waste Reduction and Sorting System Development Support’ project, which is implemented under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Partnership Program.
The project will be implemented in Kim Long, Phu Xuan, and Thuan An wards, focusing on developing community-based waste reduction and sorting models tailored to the specific characteristics of each locality. It also aims to strengthen the capacity of local officials, encourage greater community participation, and promote waste reuse and recycling.
Honorary Professor Tatsuro Niikawa said that KEAA has extensive experience in community-based environmental protection and waste management. Through the project in Hue, the association hopes to share Kyoto's expertise and introduce source-separation models suited to local conditions. It also plans to strengthen public communication, training, and awareness-raising activities, particularly among younger generations, on environmental protection and sustainable development.
According to Professor Niikawa, the success of waste management depends largely on active community participation. He expressed confidence that, with the support of local authorities and the enthusiastic involvement of residents, the project would be successfully implemented, contributing to a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable Hue.
Speaking at the meeting, Vice Chairman Tran Huu Thuy Giang noted that cooperation between Hue and Kyoto was established in 2013 and has continued to deepen through exchanges and collaborative activities in culture, heritage conservation, tourism, education, environmental protection, and urban development. In particular, the Memorandum of Friendship and Cooperation signed in November 2023 has provided an important foundation for expanding bilateral cooperation in a new phase.
Regarding the JICA-funded ‘Hue City Community-Based Waste Reduction and Sorting System Development Support’ project, with a total budget of approximately 60 million Japanese yen (around 10 billion VND), the Vice Chairman described it as a highly practical initiative that aligns with Hue's vision of becoming a green city. The project would not only bring significant benefits to the community but also enable Hue to learn from Kyoto's valuable experience in waste sorting, collection, and treatment.
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| Hue City leaders presenting commemorative gifts to the Kyoto Environmental Activities Association (KEAA) delegation after the meeting |
According to the Vice Chairman, Hue is one of Vietnam's pioneering localities in implementing waste separation at source. The knowledge, experience, and technical solutions provided by Japanese experts, he said, are invaluable and will significantly enhance the city's waste management and environmental protection efforts.
To ensure the project's long-term success and sustainability, the Vice Chairman proposed three key measures. First, in addition to the University of Sciences, Hue University, the Department of Agriculture and Environment should be included as a project partner to strengthen resources and improve implementation effectiveness. Second, after the pilot phase is completed successfully, the project results should be reviewed and reported to JICA as a basis for replicating the model in other areas across the city. Third, he suggested that universities in Kyoto establish cooperation agreements with the University of Sciences, Hue University to promote in-depth environmental research in the years ahead.
The Vice Chairman also pledged that, once the project is completed, the city will continue directing the leaders of the three pilot wards, the University of Sciences, Hue University, and the Department of Agriculture and Environment to coordinate efforts to maintain, expand, and replicate the model, ensuring the project's long-term sustainability.