On Wednesday, an international seminar on the advantages of natural resources in urban development took place in Da Nang.  The event was jointly chaired by the Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, Mr Phung Tan Viet, and the German Consul General in Viet Nam, Mr Hans Dieter Stell.

In the current context of rapid urbanisation in many Asian cities, there is a great demand for sufficient supplies of clean water, food and energy, as well as to ensure environmental sanitation and land-use planning.  However, detailed plans for the integrated management of natural resources in urban areas have rarely been made.  In an effort to ensure sustainable urban development, the “Integrated Resource Management in Asian Cities: the Urban Nexus” project is being implemented in 10 Asian cities, including Da Nang.  The others are Yogyakarta in Indonesia, Ulan Bator in Mongolia, Rizhao, Ba’nan and Weifang in China, Santa Rosa and Naga in the Philippines, and Chiang Mai and Korat in Thailand.  The Nexus project has been developed by the German Society for International Cooperation and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

Da Nang is the first city in Viet Nam to participate in the project.  Since November 2013, the city has accessed technical consultancy services and made plans to implement the project.  In addition, the Nexus project has supported the city in seeking more funding for the implementation of pilot feasibility programmes.  In particular, special attention has been paid to improving the management of wastewater treatment and urban agriculture models.  Thanks to this, local agencies have implemented a programme for vacuum wastewater collection, biogas production, and the use of biogas in agricultural production.  Staff from Da Nang who are involved in implementing the project in the city have made overseas field trips to learn about advanced management models.  They have presented their reports at an international conference on the Nexus project in Thailand.