AFD accompanies Viet Nam in developing sustainable blue economy

The Viet Nam Agency of Seas and Islands recently held a meeting with a delegation from the French Development Agency (AFD) in Viet Nam to discuss cooperation orientations for the 2026 - 2030 period. The key fields included marine resource management, environmental protection, and sustainable blue economy development.

The event was attended by Nguyen Quoc Toan, Director General of the Viet Nam Agency of Seas and Islands; Deputy Director General Truong Duc Tri; and leaders of affiliated units. Representing AFD in Viet Nam were Nguyen Thi Thanh An, Head of Ecological Transition for Territories; Vu Canh Toan, Lead Expert and Chief Coordinator of the Water and Natural Resources Management (WARM) Facility; along with project experts and staff.

At the meeting, Director General Nguyen Quoc Toan highly appreciated the effectiveness of cooperation between the two sides and expressed hope that AFD would continue to support Viet Nam, drawing on lessons learned from projects implemented at both the central and local levels.

The Agency proposed that AFD support institutional and policy development for marine and island resource and environmental management; the establishment of information systems and databases for integrated intersectoral management; the promotion of blue economy models; and greater knowledge sharing, experience exchange, and financial mobilization for areas of mutual interest.

Representing AFD in Viet Nam, Nguyen Thi Thanh An said, “AFD is a public financial institution of the French Government that has operated in Viet Nam since 1994 and serves as a strategic partner of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in sustainable development, climate change response, and green growth.”

According to Nguyen Thi Thanh An, AFD and the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM) previously supported the project “Integrated management support for the Hai Phong estuary and Ha Long-Bai Tu Long bays” during 2021 and 2023. The project helped strengthen integrated coastal zone management capacity and establish coordination and knowledge-sharing mechanisms between Hai Phong and Quang Ninh.

“AFD is currently implementing several local projects, including the construction of the West Sea dyke and coastal erosion protection works in Ca Mau, with a total investment of over VND 849 billion, equivalent to nearly EUR 32 million, for the 2024 - 2027 period,” Vu Canh Toan said.

The project focuses on coastal protection, mangrove ecosystem restoration, and supporting livelihood transformation for coastal communities to reduce dependence on nearshore fisheries, contributing to sustainable marine economic development.

In the near future, through the WARM platform - a coordination and policy support mechanism connecting locally funded AFD projects with national policymaking - AFD proposed supporting stronger institutional frameworks for marine resource and environmental management; developing management and decision-support tools; and co-organizing capacity-building events, policy dialogues, and workshops to share lessons learned from practical projects, including technical integration.

The AFD representative affirmed that WARM is ready to support the development of shared databases and policy-support systems for state management of marine and island resources and environments, while also providing assistance in terms of marine spatial impact assessments and balancing blue economy development goals.

AFD is supporting 15 provinces and cities across Viet Nam in adapting to climate change through projects targeting flood control, saline intrusion, and coastal erosion, as well as integrated water resource management. These efforts also promote sustainable and resilient urban development.

AFD’s country strategy for Viet Nam (2021–2025) aims to support the country’s path toward resilience and net-zero emissions by 2050. It is built around three main pillars:

- Supporting a low-carbon energy transition to mitigate the effects of climate change.

- Guiding territories toward an ecological and resilient trajectory that promotes adaptation.

- Contributing to sectoral dialogue through expertise, knowledge-sharing, and research.

Between 2021 and 2025, AFD has committed €713 million to 15 new projects aligned with the Paris Agreement. As part of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, AFD has strengthened its Team Europe partnership, managing €94 million in EU grants to support project preparation and implementation facilities in the energy sector (ETEF), transport (VTD), and climate change adaptation (WARM).