VietNamNet Bridge – The Japanese Government has committed to grant US$2.6 billion in official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam in 2013, nearly doubling last year’s figure (US$1.4 billion).

The announcement was made by Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam, Tanizaki Yasuaki, at the three-day CG meeting which opened in Hanoi on December 10.

He highly valued Vietnam’s macroeconomic policies to ensure sustainable growth through its 10-year socio-economic development strategy and five-year socio-economic development plan.

He suggested Vietnam implement specific measures on economic restructuring, with a focus on building a healthy financial system, settling bad debts and rearranging State-owned enterprises (SOEs).

He stressed that Vietnam’s sustainable growth is the key to regional stability and development. Japan will continue supporting Vietnam’s efforts in developing infrastructure and human resources, he added.

Earlier on December 7, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda stated that Japan will maintain ODA funding for Vietnam’s socio-economic development projects while receiving Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung.

He confirmed his government’s resolve to strengthen cooperation in various areas with Vietnam, considering this one of Japan’s priorities in its development cooperation policy.

Denmark commits US$57 million in ODA

Denmark will provide Vietnam with US$57 million in official development assistance (ODA) in 2013. Danish Ambassador John Nielsen announced the allocation on December 7.
    
Nielsen said the aid aims to help Vietnam build a sustainable green economy. The potential for technical cooperation between the two countries is great, especially in the energy field, he added.

Under bilateral agreements on green growth, energy saving, and climate change adaptation, Denmark will offer an additional US$14 million to assist Vietnamese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to improve energy efficiency.

A tripartite green growth agreement signed by Vietnam, Denmark, and the Republic of Korea also focuses on helping the Southeast Asian country devise a green growth strategy.

The Danish Ambassador pledged to prioritise assisting Vietnam’s efforts with legal reform, administrative reform, and capacity building for the National Assembly’s agencies.

Vietnam-Denmark relations have steadily advanced over recent years. In November 2012, Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning Schmidt visited Vietnam, aiming to boost bilateral cooperation in various fields, especially politics, trade, and culture.

Denmark is one of Vietnam’s leading EU partners in terms of ODA provision. Since the 1972 establishment of the two countries’ diplomatic ties, Denmark has granted more than US$1 billion in ODA to Vietnam. Most of it has been allocated to infrastructure development, poverty reduction, administrative reform, environmental protection, SME assistance, and climate change adaptation.

Source: VOV