WB Funds $46M for Poverty Reduction in Vietnam Central Province

The World Bank (WB) has pledged to fund $46 million for 11 poverty reduction projects in Vietnam’s central province of Thanh Hoa in the 2004-2016 period. Local authorities in collaboration with the WB held a conference on Oct 4 to review the implementation of the WB-funded projects on agriculture, public healthcare, education, transportation, and energy. So far, four of which have been finished, helping improve infrastructure in rural and remote areas, and bettering healthcare and educational services for locals as well as contributing to the provincial socio-economic development. Addressing the event, Keiko Sato, WB Senior Officer, said Thanh Hoa has made rapid progress in carrying out the projects with a higher percentage of fund disbursement than in other localities. The WB also committed to support local authorities in completing the remaining projects as soon as possible to further reduce poverty and improve the living conditions of local residents.  The global bank financed a combined of $1.47 billion for nine programs of Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC) in Vietnam as of late 2010. (Nhan Dan – The People Oct 6, Nong Nghiep Viet Nam – Vietnam Agriculture Oct 5)