On 3rd March 2009 took place in Hanoi the kick-off Workshop of IWAS Vietnam project. With about 80 invited guests from various ministries, local authorities and universities, the workshop allowed the participants to learn about the main objectives of the project and exchange ideas and suggestions for the difficult challenges expected.

The project has received positive appreciations from Ministry of Science and Technology in Vietnam, through the presence of Dr. Pham Huyen, former Deputy Director for the Department of International Cooperation. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Bao Tam from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment address encouragement words for the project consortium, offering his help for a good progress of the work.

The People’s Committee has been represented by Mr. Do Manh Hai, Deputy Director of People’s Committee in Long Bien district, who emphasised the need of urgent action on further development of the master plan for sewage management in the district. The project has received a very warm encouragement also from the highest level in German diplomacy in Vietnam, Mr. Ambassador Rolf Shulze giving his welcome address at the beginning of the workshop.

After rounds of presentations and intensive discussions on the main three workshop topics (optimization of the master plan for the management of wastewater in Long Bien district, scientific research on artificial groundwater replenishment, and advanced training measures), the workshop has been closed but the work will continue by now with even more intensity.

(Special thanks to Prof. Luu Van Boi from Hanoi University of Science for the excellent arrangements).