COORDINATION MEETING FOR THE PROJECT 

 "Construction of the western sea dyke from Cai Doi Vam to Kenh Nam and erosion control embankments for critical coastal sections from Song Ong Doc estuary to Bay Hap estuary"

CA MAU, VIETNAM - June 13, 2026 - With the support of the European Union (EU) under the Global Gateway strategy, which prioritizes sustainable infrastructure and climate resilience, in partnership with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Ca Mau Province hosted the Coordination Meeting for the Project "Construction of the western sea dyke from Cai Doi Vam to Kenh Nam and erosion control embankments for critical coastal sections from Song Ong Doc estuary to Bay Hap estuary". The event was attended by representatives from the Ca Mau Provincial People's Committee, AFD, the European Union, and relevant provincial departments and agencies.

Mr. Roberto Ruiz Ruiz, Head of Finance and Contracts at the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam, stated: "Through the Global Gateway strategy and the Team Europe approach, the European Union is committed to delivering concrete actions to support Vietnam and Ca Mau Province in effectively responding to climate change. This project – which combines robust technical infrastructure with nature-based solutions, such as mangrove restoration – represents our concrete steps towards directly protecting the safety and livelihoods of the most vulnerable communities, while meaningfully contributing to the sustainable socio-economic development of the entire Mekong Delta region."

In the context of climate change exerting increasing impacts on the Mekong Delta—particularly with coastal erosion, sea-level rise, and the degradation of mangrove ecosystems becoming severely critical - the Project is being implemented to enhance the resilience of coastal communities in Ca Mau Province, safeguard residents' livelihoods, and promote sustainable socio-economic development. The conference serves as an opportunity for all parties to review the project's implementation progress, evaluate the outcomes of deployed activities, discuss the action plan for the second half of 2026, and agree on solutions to ensure the quality, effectiveness, and sustainability of both structural and non-structural investment components.

With a total investment of 849 billion VND, utilizing an ODA loan from the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), a grant mobilized from the European Union (EU), and counterpart funding from the local budget, the project demonstrates the joint commitment of Vietnam and its European development partners in advancing climate change adaptation solutions based on both technical infrastructure and natural ecosystems.

Mr. Julien Seillan, Country Director of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) in Vietnam, emphasized: "As a long-standing partner of Vietnam in its climate change adaptation efforts, AFD is committed to supporting Ca Mau Province in building comprehensive coastal protection models. This project is the clearest testament to the harmonious combination of « gray infrastructure » - the sea dikes - and « green infrastructure » from the protection forests. Together with the EU and local authorities, we aim not only to protect the coastline but also to conserve biodiversity and enhance integrated coastal zone management capacity for future generations."

Alongside the structural components, which include an approximately 19-km sea dike and an 11-km anti-erosion embankment system, the project also implements numerous non-structural activities. These include mangrove restoration and management, climate-resilient livelihood support, and community awareness-raising on coastal ecosystem protection, with a special focus on supporting the development of an Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Strategy for Ca Mau Province.

During the 2026-2028 period, the project expects to support the new planting of approximately 100 hectares of mangroves, establish and operate 45 farmer groups, implement climate-resilient livelihood models for over 1,000 households, simultaneously strengthen the role of women in economic development activities, and mainstream climate-resilient coastal management activities into existing sectoral plans.

Mr. Lam Van Bi, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People's Committee, stated: "Less than two years since the signing of the financing agreements in 2024, we are thrilled to witness the highly positive progress of the project, especially the Western sea protection embankment, which has reached nearly 80% completion. For the government and the people of Ca Mau, these are not merely concrete breakwaters, but a vital shield protecting the safety and livelihoods of thousands of coastal households. Today's coordination meeting is a testament to the close and practical companionship of the European Union and AFD, helping Ca Mau confidently advance toward completing the entire infrastructure by 2027 and forging a resilient, sustainable coastal zone."

The project coordination meeting marks a significant milestone in the project's implementation process while continuing to consolidate the collaboration among local authorities, international donors, and the community. This aims to build a safe, sustainable Ca Mau coastal zone with greater resilience to the challenges of climate change.