23 February 2000
WCD Press Conference in Hanoi

Press Conference in Hanoi:

Who: Commissioners & the Secretary-General, World Commission on Dams
Where: Meritus Westlake Hotel, Hanoi, Vietnam
When: 1.30 pm, Saturday, 26 February 2000
Why: The WCD is holding its fourth regional consultation in Hanoi

HANOI, Vietnam - More than 30 papers on the economic, social, environmental, and transboundary impacts of large dams will be presented to the World Commission on Dams during its East and South East Asia Regional Consultation 26-27 February at the Meritus Westlake Hotel, Hanoi, Vietnam.

In addition to the press conference journalists also are welcome to attend the two-day session to hear the presentations by speakers from Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, and the Philippines. These speakers represent companies, social and environmental NGOs, utilities, government, and academic interests.

The conference will open with remarks by Professor Kader Asmal, WCD Chair; Mr. Lakshmi Jain, WCD Vice-Chair; Dr. Pham Hong Giang, Vice-Minister of Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Mr. John Samy, Vietnam representative for the Asian Development Bank which is helping to fund this consultation.

Among the issues to be discussed are:

• Competing needs for water (eg between industry, agriculture and the environment)


• The impact of international aid on decision-making on dams


• Displacement of communities by dams, and resettlement issues


• Hydroelectric and irrigation development: potential and limitations


• International cooperation on development/management of important regional rivers such as the Mekong


• Environmental issues related to dams

For further information, contact:
Nguyen Quoc Thang, media consultant, Hanoi, (84-4) 836 2374
Or:
Ms. Corli Pretorius, WCD liaison officer, Meritus Westlake Hotel, Hanoi, (84-4) 823-8888.