Importance and contribution of surface water and groundwater resources in GDP growth and economic structure of Ho Chi Minh City

Abstract

Water is essential to life, making its total economic value immeasurable. At the same time water is a finite resource, and one for which competition is likely to increase as the Ho Chi Minh City’s economy grows. Driven by this heightened competition, the economic value of water will rise, and decision-makers in both the private and the public sectors will need information that can help them maximize the benefits derived from its use. This report is an initial step toward (1) raising awareness of water’s importance to our city economic welfare, and (2) assembling information that is critical to sustainably managing the city’s water resources. It emphasizes the analysis of the contribution of two important inputs to economic sectors: labor and water use; calculate the index of economic water productivity and show the necessary interventions in the face of water shortage.