Geo-disaster capacity building between NGI and Vietnam National University

Development Minister Erik Solheim and Professor Nhuan, President of Vietnam National University (VNU) signed an umbrella agreement concerning a new project titled "Capacity Building for Mitigation and Adaptation of Geo-disasters related to Environment and Energy Development in Vietnam".

The President of the Vietnam National University (VNU) Professor    Nhuan, and NGI's Managing Director, Dr. Suzanne Lacasse,    signed the agreement at NGI Thursday 5 June.

The agreement was signed during the Vietnam Presidential visit to Norway 5-6 June. The project, which has a budget of about 12 mill. NOK over 3 years, is funded by the Government of Norway. NGI will serve as the key Norwegian partner in the project under an agreement directly with VNU. This agreement was signed between the President of VNU, Prof Nuan and NGI's Director Dr.Suzanne Lacasse at a seremonial arrangement at NGI on 5th June.

VNU will have several local partners including hydroelectric authorities in Vietnam for implementing the project. NGI will also make use of subcontractors, including NVE. NGI's technical input in the project has a value of about 5.6 million NOK. In addition to capacity building on the mitigation of geohazards, pilot project studies will be performed for mitigation of landslides for hydropower plant development, coastal erosion and subsidence in Hanoi.

NGI's Deputy Managing Director Oddvar Kjekstad and project leader Dr. Rajinder Bhasin have been actively involved in framing the project together with VNU representatives. They have had several meetings in Vietnam in the past two and half years to complete the many formalities required for obtaining approval of the project from various governmental agencies. The Norwegain Embassy in Hanoi has played a key role in the process.

The project is scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2009. NGI is undertaking several projects in Asia related to mitigation of geo-disasters. The knowledge and dissemination from these projects led VNU to make a request to Norway for support to enhance capacity building within mitigation of geo-disasters. In terms of exposure to natural disasters, Vietnam is among the Asian countries with the highest risk profile.