i CERTIFICATION I certify that this work has not been submitted and is not being currently submitted for any degrees other than the Master in Public Policy of Fulbright Economics Teaching Program, MPP4. I certify that at my best knowledge, I conducted myself in an ethical manner in all aspects of my research and all sources used have been acknowledged in the thesis. The research does not necessarily reflect either the views of Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics or Fulbright Economics Teaching Program. Author Ngo Minh Phuong LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis has found its ways with the support of many people.
First, I would like to express my sincere gratefulness to Dr. Huynh The Du who supervised my performing this thesis. He has continuously spent his valuable time and given me helpful advice without those I would have hardly been able to finish my study. Also I thank Dr.
Jan Hoffer for his initial guidance, literatures and review, Mr. Ly Chung Dan for his professional knowledge sharing, Mr. Le Huu Quang for experience and information sharing, Mr. Gerard Soppe for his proof reading and contribution.
Last, I am very thankful for the study at Fulbright Economics Teaching program and all the teachers and friends who have made themselves available to all the academic questions and support. Ngo Minh Phuong Ho Chi Minh City – May 2013 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com iii ABSTRACT The study analyzes the effects of private sector involvement in Saigon Water Corporation (Sawaco) through equitization with an aim to draw a picture on lessons learnt from Sawaco for future PPP activities in Vietnam’s urban water supply. Sawaco equitized six out of eight water supply branches into joint stock companies. However, two years after the equitization, the People’s Committee of HCMC guided Sawaco on plan for re-buying the shares in JSCs to achieve ownership of 75%.
In addition, the two remaining branches were transformed to one member limited liability company. Sawaco Parent Company has transformed to One Member Limited Company under parent-subsidiary company model since 01 October 2010. The privatization was one of the efforts in correcting the government failure. Nevertheless, very little evidence showed the positive influence of equitization on Sawaco.
Except for political criteria like annual new household connections, there was no improvement observed in NRW or financial situation. On the contrary, the joint stock companies embraced the new institutional form well. Yet, there is no share of responsibilities between the public (Sawaco) and private (joint stock companies) sectors. In term of the population accessing the drinking water network, despite the expansion of network connection, not much attention was paid to the water provision for poor people.
The incentive to give connections to the low-income group goes down due to commercial characteristics of the equitization process. Although the equitization has realized the policy to socialize urban water services in Vietnam in general and in HCMC in particular as well as seeded the market orientation for the water sector, it has threatened the political priority targets and could have achieved better with forethoughts and baseline analytical work. Following the findings, generally it is vital to produce baseline analysis on the situation and prepare a favorable business and policy environment before involving the private sector. Second, a balance between commercial achievements of the private sector and societal gains is required.
Last, active involvement of all stakeholders is essential in the increase of transparency, accountability and efficiency. LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com iv For Sawaco, it is recommended that private engagement should be bounded to non-core operation and maintenance activities of the utility. Water supply affiliates need to stay with the parent utility as long as network ownership is involved, therefore efforts to gain full control over tertiary networks are necessary. It may be executed through the collection of sufficient shares in JSCs or negotiation for buying back the tertiary network currently owned by JSCs.
Another option is to complete the equitization meaning privatization of the entire Sawaco and subsidiaries with asset ownerships in hands of the government. This shall transform the corporation into an operator of the water system.