Vietnam PM Ratifies UN, SAICM-funded Development Projects

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved the portfolio of projects funded by UN Food and Agriculture Organization and UN Environment Program (UNEP) and Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM). Technical Assistance to the Coordination and Implementation of the National Target Program on Building New Rural Areas will be wholly financed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization with the total aid of $397,000. A project on enhancing state management capacity over chemicals and substances for insect killing and pasteurization in the health sector for 2012-2013 will be co-financed by UNEP and SAICM with total non-refundable aid of $248,000. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Health are responsible for completing necessary documents for the two projects and implement them. According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), international donors have pledged $71.709 billion in official development assistance in the previous 19 Consultative Group Meetings, including $7.3 billion- $8 billion per year for the 2009-2011 period. (news.gov.vn Aug 14, chinhphu.vn Aug 14)