Vietnam’s General Department of Energy and the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), a German Federal Enterprise for international development, inked an agreement on June 12 to implement a joint project to scale up wind power in Vietnam.

By 2018, the 6.9 million EUR project will focus on three primary fields of activity: establishing legal and regulatory frameworks for wind power development; enhancing the performance and expertise of private and state actors involved in project development; and providing support for technological cooperation initiatives with partners in Vietnam.

At the signing ceremony, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Hoang Quoc Vuong said Vietnam has been actively developing renewable energy programmes, but the results have been below Government expectations.

The government plans to adopt greater preferential incentives to engage the private sector in wind energy development, he noted, hoping that with the help of the German Government, the project would be successful.

For her part, First Secretary at the German Embassy Annette Frick said the project agreement demonstrated the commitment of the German Government to support the development of the renewable energy industry and wind power in Vietnam.

With years of experience in the field, Germany is committed to help Vietnam and its power enterprises to solve difficulties and create a business climate conducive for investment in wind power.

According to GIZ, the fund for joint programmes in environment, energy and vocational training between Vietnam and Germany is approximately 220 million EUR, about 73 percent of which, or 160 million EUR, is allocated to energy projects.

The German Embassy and GIZ also hoped to work more closely with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and involved parties in policy and legal frameworks.

GIZ is owned by the German Federation Government and operates throughout Germany and in more than 130 countries worldwide. By the end of 2013, its business was estimated at over 1.9 billion EUR.

The company provides advisory services to the Vietnamese Government and is currently engaged in developing a technical and vocational education and training system for Vietnam; promoting environment policy and the sustainable use of natural resources; and supporting the expansion of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and bio energy.

VNA