Mr. David J. Champion, Managing Director of Bayer Vietnam (2nd from left) with Representatives of Vinh Quoi ward and Voice of HCMC in the ground breaking ceremony. — VNS Photo

SOC TRANG (Biz Hub) — Work on a new bridge in Nga 5 town in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Soc Trang began on Friday.

Scheduled to be finished in the third quarter of this year, the 46m long, 2.2m wide Vinh Hoa Bridge in Vinh Quoi ward is expected to improve life for local residents, especially children who now cross the river in cage-like wooden structures suspended on ropes and small, unsafe ferries, and constantly face the deadly danger of falling into the water.

The construction of the bridge is funded by a programme called "accompanying Vietnamese families," which is run by the Voice of HCM City and sponsored by Bayer Viet Nam to the tune of VND230 million (US$12,000).

"This is the first year we have partnered with the programme to provide practical support for the daily life of local people," David J Champion, managing director of the German company, said.

"Vinh Hoa Bridge is expected to bring safe mobility as well as contribute to the sustainable development of the local economy."

Representatives of Bayer Vietnam and Voice of HCMC traveled to the ground-breaking site by a small ferry. — VNS Photo

Le Cong Dong, director of the Voice of HCM City, said the new bridge would play a part in not only improving local living conditions but also the socio-economy of the place.

It is the second bridge that Bayer has funded in the Cuu Long (Mekong) region after the Kenh Xang 2 bridge in U Minh Thuong District, Kien Giang Province, last year.

"Within the scope of our social commitment, we thus plan long-term programmes to actively fulfill our commitment in supporting the local community in the core fields of science and education, health and social needs," Champion said.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, the company co-ordinated with the Live and Learn volunteer network to organise a programme called "Eco-talking" for 300 students from the local Vinh Quoi 3 primary school.

The event featured fun plays, quizzes and interesting interactive experiments to educate the children in environmental protection.

The company also gifted nearly 1,300 notebooks and other school needs to the students besides 450 children's books published by Bayer titled "What's Up With the Earth?"

The book is an interesting and easy-to-understand publication on environmental protection that provides useful knowledge about the effects of climate change and encourages students to adopt to a proper lifestyle. —VNS