The French Agency for Development (AFD), a financial institution of the French government, has provided 1.2 billion euros (over US$1.5 billion) in sponsoring water projects in Vietnam since 1993.

The aid given to 30 projects in Vietnam belonged to the fund for official development assistance, and has mainly been directed at clean water supply, reduction of water supply losses, and waste treatment, said AFD director Jean-Marc Gravellini at a press meeting held yesterday in Ho Chi Minh City.

From 1997 – 2011, the agency provided a financial aid totaling 345 million euros ($438 million). From this year on, it plans to provide 90 – 110 million euros ($114.3 – 139.6 million) per year, he added.

Though Vietnam has made great progress in improving water supply to communities in the last two decades, the issue remains a challenge to local governments, especially in industry and agriculture production.

In 1990, only 30 percent of the population in rural areas had access to clean water, a figure that rose to 83 percent in 2010.

Not only has AFD giving technical and financial aid to water projects, but it has also worked to call upon the community to work together in protecting water resources and the living environment, and eradicating sources of contamination. It sponsored the production of a trademark film entitled “La Soif du Monde” (The Thirst of the World) for this purpose.

Yesterday the film was featured at a free screening at Idecaf in Ho Chi Minh City. The film by director Yann Arthus-Bertrand was introduced to the public in Marseille in March this year when the city hosted the 6th World Water Forum, and was featured in Hanoi in May.

AFD director Jean-Marc Gravellini (with red necktie) is talking with journalists in Ho Chi Minh City on November 13, 2012 (Photo: Trần Tiến Dũng)