VN using ODA sources fruitfully

VGP – The two-day Consultative Group Meeting 2009 (CG 2009) opens in the morning of Thursday in Hà Nội. PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng will deliver a speech conveying Việt Nam’s commitments to the community of donors.

December 03, 2009 7:12 AM GMT+7

At CG 2008 in December last year, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng states that Việt Nam always respects each and every coin of ODA – Photo: VGP

At their annual dialogue forum this year, the Government and donors will share opinions on Việt Nam’s status in the post-crisis period; new challenges to poverty reduction; public administration and anti-corruption; sustainable development; and financial commitments for Việt Nam in 2010.

The CG 2009 is opened in the context when the Vietnamese economy is vigorously recovering thanks to the increasingly effective use of ODA resources.

Earlier, at the mid-year CG 2009 on June 8, 2009 in the Central Highlands city of Buôn Ma Thuột, donors pledged to continue their assistance for Việt Nam and highly spoke of the Government’s macro-economic management.

Last month, Japan and Việt Nam signed seven ODA agreements worth of nearly JP¥120 billion (about US $1.3 billion) and Japan continued to keep its position of the biggest donor for Việt Nam.

According to the latest report released by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the total disbursement of ODA up to November 20 was estimated at US $1.99 billion, 5% higher than the yearly plan 2009 (US $1.9 billion). Experts expected that the total ODA disbursement in 2009 can reach the record of US $3 billion.

Since international donors resumed their ODA program for Việt Nam in November 1993, the ODA commitment was US $42.5 billion in total by late 2008, in which US $22 billion were disbursed.

Việt Nam is considered one of the best ODA users in the world, reducing its poverty rate from 58% in 1992 down to 11% this year.

By Hoàng Nguyên