S.Korea Pledges More ODA for Vietnam

South Korea will continue to provide official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam next years, Ambassador Chan Ho Ha said at a seminar in the capital city of Hanoi on Sept 29.  The state-run Tuoi tre newspaper cited Ha as saying that the funding will focus on environment and green growth, human resource development and transport infrastructure projects.  Total ODA of South Korea for Vietnam has amounted $150 million, including $20 million worth of non-refundable loan since 2007, the ambassador added. Earlier, he said that the South Korea government will provide $3 billion in ODA for Vietnam in the 2011-2015 period, 2.5 time higher than the figure in 1996-2010.
“Vietnam is still one of the largest recipients from the South Korea though it has become joined the group of middle income earners”, Ho said, adding that Vietnam still needs capital for infrastructure development, so the South Korean government will continue providing ODA for Vietnam. In 2011, South Korea plans to provide Vietnam with an aid package worth $215 million for a number projects, including those to equip Danang hospital, build a solar energy plant in Quang Binh, and upgrade the water supply and drainage system in Long Xuyen. (Tuoi tre – Youth Sept 30 p3)