Established a foundation for sustainable cooperation by signing a business agreement starting this year.
Introduced the city’s "Waterworks AI Adoption Promotion Project" and plans to continue follow-up technology exchanges, including AI water purification plants and smart water network management systems.

The Busan Waterworks Headquarters (hereinafter referred to as the "Headquarters") announced that it is continuing its AI technology exchange and cooperation regarding smart water network management during a visit to the Saigon Water Corporation (SAWACO) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The Headquarters delegation visited SAWACO in Ho Chi Minh City for a 3-night, 5-day schedule from October 12 to 16 to hold the "17th Administrative and Technical Exchange Meeting" (hereinafter referred to as the "Meeting").

The meeting has been held regularly since 2004 to promote friendship through administrative and technical exchanges in the waterworks sector, marking its 17th edition this year (2026).

This year's meeting was held under the themes of and at locations such as Ho Chi Minh’s Thu Duc Water Treatment Plant and Ben Thanh Water Supply Enterprise. Around 50 officials from both sides participated, including Headquarters Head Kim Byung-ki and SAWACO CEO Bui Thanh Giang.

In particular, the delegation explained the "Waterworks AI Adoption Promotion Project," building a deep consensus with SAWACO and agreeing to pursue follow-up technology exchanges.

The "Waterworks AI Adoption Promotion Project" is an initiative aimed at reducing overall operational costs and pursuing management rationalization through the establishment of AI-driven water purification plants and smart water network management systems. Earlier this year, the Headquarters was selected as the sole local government partner for the Korea International Cooperation Agency’s (KOICA) Public Cooperation Project (Q-DEEP*), full-scale establishing a Busan-style Official Development Assistance (ODA) project model.- Q-DEEP (Quick-Deep): An abbreviation for a rapid development consulting project modeled after KOICA's Development Experience Exchange Program (DEEP).

Additionally, both sides agreed to jointly develop sensors to detect hazardous substances such as heavy metals, conduct joint demonstrations in the Dong Nai River and Saigon River near Ho Chi Minh City as well as the Nakdong River, and develop and exchange AI-based smart water networks as joint technologies.

Prior to the meeting on the 13th, the two sides signed a business agreement to formalize their cooperative framework.

Attendees of the business agreement signing ceremony included Headquarters Head Kim Byung-ki, as well as SAWACO Board Chairman Duong Hong Nhan (SAWACO Party Secretary), CEO Bui Thanh Giang, and Vice President Nguyen Van Dang.

Through this business agreement, the two sides established a waterworks cooperative framework for mutual growth, focusing on:

Developing sustainable waterworks infrastructure,
Applying technology and digital transformation,
Establishing digital corporate models in the waterworks sector, and
Developing high-quality human resources.
Meanwhile, SAWACO highlighted the significance of the exchange by broadcasting the results of the business agreement signing and the exchange meeting in real-time and posting them on its official website.

Kim Byung-ki, Head of the Busan Water Works Headquarters, stated, "This business agreement and meeting will serve as a stepping stone for both institutions to share policies and technologies in the waterworks sector, expand human resource exchanges, and conduct joint research," adding, "We will continue sustainable exchange and cooperation across various fields."

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