NGO Projects Help Cao Bang Province Reduce Poverty

The northern mountainous province of Cao Bang is benefiting from 50 non-governmental projects worth a total of VND120 billion, according to a conference held in Cao Bang town on May 27. Presentations at the conference, held by the provincial People’s Committee, and the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, showed that these projects contributed considerably to local socioeconomic development. Ly Hai Hau, Vice Chairman of the Cao Bang People’s Committee, said that the NGO projects have been helping the province improve people’s lives and strengthen partnerships with international friends. Participants at the conference discussed issues such as challenges to and solutions for improving cooperation efficiency, and sharing experience, as well as new orientations for implementing NGO projects in Cao Bang. These discussions are expected to provide the basis for a program to promote overseas non-governmental donation in the 2011-2015 period. On this occasion, the Cao Bang People’s Committee signed cooperation agreements with Action Aid-Vietnam and Spain’s Anesvad for the new phase. Some 800 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are currently operating in cities and provinces throughout Vietnam. In recent years, the value of disbursed donations from overseas NGOs has risen dramatically, hitting $279 million in 2010 alone, with a focus on Vietnam’s priority fields and issues. (vovnews.vn May 27)