The French Development Agency (AFD) has pledged to grant EUR1-million technical assistance to Vietnam’s medical sector, state media reported April 30. Minister of Planning and Investment Vo Hong Phuc and General Director of AFD Dov Michel Zerah and French Ambassador to Vietnam Jean-Francois Girault will sign an agreement on the aid in Hanoi tomorrow [May 5]. The funding is aimed at providing technical assistance to the establishment and the modernization of Hanoi University Medical Hospital (CHU). The CHU project is part of traditional cooperation activities in the health sector between France and Vietnam. The ambition of the project is high, with improvements the medical training system, as well as research capacities. Especially, an international technical assistance will be financed for three years in order to support Hanoi medical university hospital for this project. With the new funding agreement, the total net commitment of AFD for official development assistance (ODA) in Vietnam will amount to about EUR1.05 billion. (vir.com.vn April 30, toquoc.gov.vn April 29)
