New Zealand Commits to Provide More ODA for Vietnam Next Year

New Zealand has committed that it will provide more official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam, especially in education and training next years, New Zealand Deputy PM and Finance Minister Simon English said. Simon English made the commitment at a meeting on April 16 between Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc who is visiting New Zealand to boost comprehensive partnership. At the meeting, Simon English said that NZ has highly valued investment potential in Vietnam and pledged to create conditions for Vietnam’s commodities to enter the New Zealand market, especially seafood and tropical fruit. New Zealand has formally granted ODA to Vietnam since 1995. The amount of ODA is increasing. In the 2005-2006 fiscal year, New Zealand granted Vietnam NZD4.7 million and the total amount of New Zealand’s ODA in 2006-2007 is NZD6.7 million. In the coming 3 fiscal years, the aid amount will increase to more than NZD10 million per year. New Zealand aid concentrates on some priority fields such as: human resource development, agricultural and rural development, health and State management. Some ODA projects of New Zealand, though in small size, are fairly effective. (vietnamplus.vn Apr 16)