Officials attend Vietnam talks

Advertiser Staff

A delegation of city officials left for Hue, Vietnam, Thursday to participate in an international technical exchange partnership funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Tim Steinberger, director of the city's Department of Environmental services, and engineers Wilma Namumnart and Kenneth Kawahara will spend one week with Hue city officials, discussing solid waste management, drainage and wastewater issues, tourism management and development and urban greenery.

Board of Water Supply spokeswoman Denise De Costa also is part of the delegation to provide training in development of public outreach programs.

"This program is aimed at assisting the government of Hue in addressing some of their critical service delivery needs. These are the kinds of assistance projects that are identified at Honolulu's environmental summits and our Asia Pacific Urban Institute," Mayor Jeremy Harris said.

Hue City has a population of about 300,000 and is experiencing a broad range of environmental and infrastructure problems as it transitions from the post-Vietnam war era, Harris said.