The Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has asked ministries, agencies, localities and economic groups to submit report on the implementation of all Official Development Assistance (ODA)-funded projects in the first half of this year. The reports, to be sent to the MPI prior to July 15, aim to help the ministry to tighten over ODA-funded projects in order to quicken the capital disbursement, avoiding squandering public investment, the Dau Tu newspaper reported June 21. The reports include estimates on disbursements of ODA and the reciprocal capitals in 2010, causes for sluggish construction as well as plans to disburse ODA in 2011. The Southeast Asian nation targets to disburse $3.5 billion in ODA in 2010 against a record high of $4.1 billion in 2009, the ministry said.
At the CG Meeting held in Hanoi late last year, foreign donors pledged a record of $8.063 billion in aid for the nation this year. Vietnam disbursed $9.81 billion in ODA between 2006 and 2009, accounting for 41% of total pledged ODA and 60% of the signed ODA in the period. The figure is forecast to rise to $12.96 billion by end-December this year. ODA is one of the key sources of dollars for Vietnam, after exports, foreign direct investment and remittances.
