Mrs. Vu Thi Hien Hanh - Vice Chairman of Yen Bai Provincial People's Committee and leaders of a number of related departments, branches and units worked with the delegation.

At the courtesy meeting, comrade Vu Thi Hien Hanh - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Yen Bai province gave an overview to the delegation about the economic, cultural and social development situation of Yen Bai province in recent times, the potentials and strengths of Yen Bai province in tourism development associated with the unique cultural identities of ethnic groups in the province such as Thac Ba lake, Suoi Giang ecological area, Mu Cang Chai terraced fields, ecological area Dam Hau lake...

The Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Yen Bai province also gave quick information on the implementation projects using official ODA support capital and preferential loans from donors being implemented in Yen Bai, provincepoverty reduction, gender equality, implementing policies to support ethnic minorities... Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Yen Bai province said that natural disasters often occur in Yen Bai province, especially in the mountainoues areas with many ethnic minorities. Mrs. Hanh hoped that the working group will be a bridge to help the province have more sources of ODA loans for the province to invest in natural disaster prevention, urban wastewater treatment, and food production, poverty reduction and gender equality in the province as well as introducing Canadian investors to explore investment opportunities in Yen Bai province.

At present, Yen Bai province cooperated with Cowater International to develop the Project Document "Promoting resilience, inclusion and innovative transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises" sponsored by the Canadian Ministry of Global Affairs to submit to competent authorities for appraisal and approval.

On behalf of the delegation, Ms. Leigh McCumber thanked Yen Bai leaders for the warmly welcome for the delegation, as well as great support for the project on gender equality and the development of ethnic minorities by the Canadian Initiative Fund for localities newly implemented in Yen Bai province.

Ms. Leigh McCumber also expects that in the coming time there will be more cooperation with Yen Bai province in implementing the project "Promoting resilience, inclusion, and creative transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises". The working group will also consider and research to find investment sources or projects to help Yen Bai province in wastewater treatment, natural disaster prevention and adaptation to climate change in the province.