Receiving the invitation of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), leaders of Quang Tri Mine Action Center (QTMAC): Mr. Thai Huu Lieu - Director of QTMAC and Mr. Dinh Ngoc Vu - Deputy Director participated in the Southeast Asia regional workshop on "Enhancing innovative and sustainable practices in mine action " from September 12 to September 14, 2023, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The workshop is one of the activities in the South-South cooperation program to strengthen friendship and promote the sharing of knowledge and experience between neighboring countries in the ASEAN region. It is also an opportunity for representatives of Government agencies in the Southeast Asian countries to exchange and share more information related to mine action including clearance, victim assistance, explosive ordnance risk education, explosive ordnance disposal, technology application, risk management.
The workshop was attended by 80 delegates including the governments of five Southeast Asian (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, the Philippines) and representatives of international donors and organizations such as the UK Embassy, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Red Cross, Norwegian People's Aid (NPA), Mine Advisory Group (MAG), The HALO Trust, Cambodia Mine Action Center (CMAC).
On behalf of QTMAC, Mr. Dinh Ngoc Vu - Deputy Director of QTMAC delivered 2 speeches sharing experiences on the model of management and coordination in mine action at provincial level in Quang Tri and the content aimed at building "safety province criteria" that QTMAC is presiding over and drafting. At the workshop, QTMAC leaders also actively participated in discussion sessions, sharing QTMAC's achievements as well as difficulties and challenges related to mine action in the context of Quang Tri province and Vietnam. The shared contents and opinions of QTMAC were received with interest and highly appreciated by the representatives as an effective coordination model in mine action at provincial level that should be considered for replication in localities and regions.
Sincere thanks to the US Government for funding to improve the capacity for QTMAC as well as mine action activities in Quang Tri province!