VietNamNet Bridge – The Prime Minister will have a direct dialogue with international donors about development issues in Vietnam at the Vietnam Development Partnership Forum 2013 (VDPF 2013) scheduled for Thursday in Hanoi.

Speaking at a press briefing held on Monday, Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh said that the Prime Minister had agreed to talk directly with sponsors.

VDPF 2013 will be the first open dialogue between the Government and international donors and organizations to replace the Consultative Group (CG) meeting held annually in the past 20 years.

According to Vinh, the forum will focus less on official development assistance (ODA) pledges but more on development policies Vietnam is pursuing.

This year’s VDPF will cover issues concerning macro-economy, stability, economic restructuring, growth recovery and poverty reduction.

The Government will adjust the allocation of ODA loans to be more effective after Vietnam becomes a middle-income country.

“Ministries, agencies, local authorities and even the people still regard ODA loans as grants, and this way of thinking is very dangerous,” Vinh said.

He said that localities would have to make contribution if wanting poverty reduction projects using ODA loans to be implemented in their places.

According to Victoria Kwakwa, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, international donors will still pledge help for Vietnam. In addition to traditional ODA sources, Vietnam can seek new capital sources on international financial markets, she added.

Source: SGT