Meeting to approve master plan and action plan for 2009 of the Phong Nha - Ke Bang region project, KfW component

Attending the meeting were Vice-chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Tran Cong Thuat, Head of the Project Steering Committee; Mr Arnoud P.J.M Steeman, Chief Technical Advisor of the KfW Consultative Office; members of the Project; representative of related departments and localities in the province.

The Phong Nha - Ke Bang region project, invested by the Department of Planning and Investment, includes two components of KfW (financial support) and GTZ (technical assistance). The Project focuses on three main actions, namely management of the Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park (KfW), buffer zone development and tourism development (GTZ). Under the plan, the project will be carried out within 8 years, from 2008 to 2016. The project aims to improve the management capacity and protection of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park; sustainable natural resources management of the buffer zone with the participation of local people; the strategy for sustainable tourism and diversity of tourist products; achieving effective results for above mentioned targets.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Phan Lam Phuong giving a closing speech at the meeting

Giving a closing speech at the meeting, Province Chairman Phan Lam Phuong agreed about the set plan and asked the investor and the KfW Consultative Office to acquire ideals of the departments and localities to supplement and complete the project. He stressed that the project management board should consolidate its apparatus to assist the investor in implementing the project. The localities in the project area should have a close combination to implement the project effectively. Especially, the Phong Nha - Ke Bang region project should pay much attention to create jobs for the local people in 13 buffer zone communes, aiming at stabilize the people's life to reduce logging and hunting.

Reported by M.A - Translated by N.Y