BUSAN — Busan's homegrown artificial intelligence technology for managing water pipe networks is expanding into Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's largest commercial hub, emerging as a flagship model for official development assistance led by a local government. Rather than simply shipping goods, the approach transplants advanced waterworks operating expertise and digital transformation technology directly to the partner city.
The Busan Waterworks Authority said on the 22nd that its delegation visited the Saigon Water Corporation (SAWACO) in Ho Chi Minh City from Oct. 12 to 16 to hold the 17th Administrative and Technical Exchange Meeting, where the two sides agreed to sharply expand cooperation on AI technology for smart water management.
The exchange meeting, held regularly since 2004, took up digital transformation and future direction, smart pipe network management and improving water distribution efficiency through water quality testing. Sessions were held at multiple sites, including the Thu Duc water treatment plant and the Ben Thanh water company. About 50 people attended, including Kim Byung-ki, head of the Busan Waterworks Authority, and Bui Thanh Giang, president of SAWACO.
The most notable outcome of the visit was strong local support for Busan's project to introduce AI into its waterworks, along with a commitment to substantive technical cooperation. The project is a Busan-style smart water management initiative that cuts operating costs and controls water quality in real time through AI-run treatment plants and a smart pipe network management system. The authority was selected this year as the only local government in the country to serve as a partner in a Korea International Cooperation Agency consulting program for fast-tracking development projects, accelerating its work to build an ODA business model.
To put the technical exchange into practice, the two sides agreed to jointly develop dedicated sensors that detect heavy metals and other hazardous substances, and to conduct joint field tests on the Dong Nai and Saigon rivers, which supply Ho Chi Minh City's water, and on Busan's Nakdong River. AI-based smart pipe network technology was also included among the items for joint development.
A memorandum of understanding signed on the 13th, ahead of the meeting, set out a four-part framework for shared growth covering sustainable waterworks infrastructure development, technology application and digital transformation, the building of digital business models, and the development of high-quality human resources.
"This agreement and meeting will mark a turning point at which the two organizations share core policies and technologies in the waterworks field and greatly expand joint research," Kim said. "We will continue sustainable exchange and cooperation to raise Busan's technological standing in the global water industry market."