USTDA Commemorates 20th Anniversary of U.S.-Vietnam Relations by Supporting Two New Infrastructure Projects

July 9, 2015

(USTDA) ARLINGTON, Va. – This week, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency commemorated the 20th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam by signing two new grant agreements for infrastructure development projects.

“In support of the U.S.-Vietnam partnership, the Agency has sponsored nearly 80 activities that have helped to expand access to power, increase the availability of clean water and modernize transportation networks in Vietnam,” said USTDA Director Leocadia I. Zak. “These new projects will highlight the role that U.S. companies can continue to play in the development of infrastructure in Vietnam and across the region.”

Director Zak signed a grant agreement with the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) to support their efforts to meet civil aviation safety standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The Aviation Safety Oversight Group, Inc. (Hermitage, Tenn.) will provide technical assistance through formal classroom and on-the-job training. This assistance will review critical elements of aviation safety oversight that are consistent with an inspector indoctrination course for operations, airworthiness and licensing inspectors. This project builds upon two previous collaborations between USTDA and CAAV that focused on improving CAAV’s air safety regulatory system as well as expanding general and business aviation in Vietnam.

During an event at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the historic visit to the United States by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, USTDA awarded a grant to the Phu Cuong Group Corporation, a private sector firm. The grant will support its efforts to develop a 170-Megwatt wind farm, the first in a planned series of near-offshore wind power projects along Vietnam’s southern coastline in Soc Trang province. The feasibility study will include a wind resource and energy assessment, a review of permitting and land control issues, an electrical grid interconnection and foundation design, construction cost estimates, and a financing plan. The study builds upon USTDA’s portfolio of wind sector projects in Vietnam, including an ongoing wind grid code development and renewable integration feasibility study with the Electricity Regulatory Authority of Vietnam, as well as another study to support the development of the planned third phase of the Bac Lieu Wind Farm project in southern Vietnam.

The opportunity to conduct the USTDA-funded feasibility study for the Phu Cuong wind farm project will be competed through Federal Business Opportunities (FBO). A link to the FBO announcement will be posted to USTDA’s website at www.ustda.gov. Interested U.S. firms should submit proposals according to the instructions in the FBO announcement.

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