EU launches new EUR400 million development co-operation programme in Vietnam
The European Union (EU) on December 4 officially announced its new Multi-annual Indicative Programme (MIP) for Vietnam for the 2014-2020 period a total amount of EUR400 million
EU
launches new EUR400 million development co-operation programme in Vietnam
The
European Union (EU) on December 4 officially announced its new Multi-annual
Indicative Programme (MIP) for Vietnam for the 2014-2020 period a total amount
of EUR400 million.
The non-refundable aid package for
the next seven years will mainly support Vietnam's socio-economic development
by developing the energy sector (accounting for 85% of the total) and by
strengthening governance and the legal system (15% of the total).
Speaking to the press in Hanoi this
morning, Director for Asia, Central Asia, Middle East/Gulf and Pacific at the
EuropeAid Office in Brussels, Pierre Amilhat, said that the MIP follows the
formal announcement by the EU and the Vietnamese Government last October, in
connection with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit to Brussels.
The EU official praised Vietnam’s
achievements in alleviating poverty and raising the standard of living of its
population. He also confirmed the EU continues to strengthen support of the
country's efforts to tackle the development challenges.
The EU has affirmed the importance
of its bilateral co-operation with Vietnam, underlying that its bilateral aid
package has increased by more than 30% as compared to the previous seven-year
period.
Under the MIP 2014-2020, a number of
new projects in the fields of sustainable energy, governance and the rule of
law will be designed and launched over the coming years.
In the energy sector, the EU support
will contribute to a more sustainable energy sector by promoting efficient,
clean and renewable energy.
The plan targets the remaining 3% of
Vietnam’s population living without electricity and commits to create access to
electricity for 64,577 households by 2020. In addition, 568,000 rural
households will utilise electricity generated from renewable sources by 2020.
Under the support to governance and
rule of law, the EU will promote democracy, strengthen the legal and judicial
systems and support creating an open business environment. The measures will be
achieved by increasing access to justice, particularly of women, the poor and
vulnerable groups; increase the accountability, transparency and
cost-effectiveness of public service delivery; and ensuring citizens' effective
participation in public governance.
In addition to the launch of the
MIP, Pierre Amilhat also announced a new agreement to support the health sector
in Vietnam will be signed between the EU official and Vietnam’s Minister of
Finance Dinh Tien Dung, following the successful achievements of on-going
support.
The new EU Health Sector Policy
Support Programme – 2 (EU-HSPSP-2) will support Vietnam's health sector reforms
and the implementation of plans and projects to roll-out these reforms over the
2015-2017 term, with a total value of EUR114 million.
The EU, as a whole, is currently the
largest grant donor to Vietnam and its second largest trading partner, with an
EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (FTA) expected to be finalised by 2015 to
further expand the economic ties.
(nhandan.org.vn)