Germany will provide EUR272 million in aid for Vietnam, the biggest amount so far, under an agreement signed on Oct 11 between the two governments in Hanoi, state media reported on Sept 12. Under the deal, the German government will give Vietnam EUR22 million in official development assistance (ODA), EUR5 million in grants and EUR245 million in loans. The funding will be used to carry out seven development projects in vocational training, environmental protection, and energy in Vietnam. It will help Vietnam implement its green growth strategy, and ensure the nation’s development. Hans-Jürgen Beerfeltz, visiting State Secretary of the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, appreciated the host’s efforts in its green growth strategy at the signing ceremony. Sustainable development, in its strictest sense, can only stem from the combination of economic achievements, social equality, and environment-friendly growth, Mr. Beerfeltz said. Germany will keep supporting Vietnam in green growth, he affirmed. The aid package was previously committed by the German government during negotiations with the Vietnamese counterpart in 2010 and 2011 in Hanoi. Germany has been a major ODA provider for Vietnam over the years, contributing more than EUR1 billion in total to Vietnam’s socio-economic development projects. The European nation is willing to increase its development aid to Vietnam and help the Southeast Asian nation in finance, science and technology, Minister of Economics and Technology Philipp Roesler earlier said. (tuoitrenews.vn Oct 11, news.gov.vn Oct 11, Thoi Bao Tai Chinh - Financial Times Oct 12 p3, Tien Phong - Pioneer Oct 12 p15)
