At a working session with provincial authorities on July 24, Ambassador Damien Cole spoke highly of the building progress and the use of centralised water supply facilities in rural communes. 

He also valued socio-economic attainments that Ha Giang has achieved over the past years despite its particular economic and transport disadvantages. 

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Minh Tien acknowledged assistance provided by the Irish Government and pledged that his locality will implement cooperation projects transparently and effectively, helping raise living conditions of ethnic minority people. 

From 2011 to June 2014, the Irish Government doled out more than VND36 billion (US$1.7 million) for Ha Giang to improve its infrastructure in extremely disadvantaged communes.