WB Helps Vietnam Province Upgrade Infrastructure

Vietnam’s southern province of Ca Mau will carry out a project to upgrade urban areas with a total investment of VND1.18 trillion ($58.06 million), with 74% of the total from the World Bank (WB). The project will be implemented from 2012 to 2017 covering 82 hectares in eight communes of Ca Mau city, focusing on upgrading infrastructure in 18 low-income residential areas, improving housing and land management and handling resettlement issue. Once completed, over 5,200 households will benefit directly from the project while 25,000 people will benefit indirectly, the Nhan dan online newspaper reported. The WB, which is among the biggest donors for Vietnam, has pledged around $2.6 billion in official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam this year and also announced to finance over $6 billion for the country in the 2011-2013 fiscal years. (www.nhandan.org.vn Jul 12)