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Investment sought for rural water
The government has released a decision that offers incentives for investment in rural water-supply programmes.
The decision, dated earlier this month, says rural water-supply projects are eligible to get public land for free or at low rents.
Organisations and individuals will also enjoy income tax breaks and financial support from the Government.
The loans and subsidies to be provided by the Government will not exceed 45 per cent of the cost of a project in cities and towns, 60 per cent in delta and coastal regions, 75 per cent in rural areas, and 90 per cent in disadvantaged, ethnic minority, mountainous areas, island, and border areas.
They can also mobilise funds from domestic and foreign sources.
To enjoy the incentives, investors are required to present plans to supply clean water and show their capacity to manage water resources.
The decision will take effect next year.
By the middle of this year, provincial authorities had commissioned 2,000 projects to supply water to 2.7 million people, increasing the number of people with access to clean water in the country to 75 per cent.
In the last few years many water-supply projects have been derailed or are working below par because of natural disasters. Others have failed to prove effective because of the lack of funds for maintenance and repairs.
In 2006-08, the Government invested VND1.22 trillion (US$68 million) in the Rural Clean Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation Programme.
vietnamnet, vietnamnews
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