Vietnam’s southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City approved two projects and received 20 non-project aid packages valued at $8.3 million from international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) in the first quarter of this year. The information was released at a meeting of INGOs in the city on April 26, with the aim to share experiences and review the activities of NGOs in the city’s socio-economic development process. To date, 135 NGOs from the Asia Pacific region, Europe and Africa have been licensed to operate in HCM City. Last year, the HCM City People’s Committee approved 13 projects and the receiving of 160 aid packages worth nearly $39 million, of which more than $15.8 million have been disbursed. The aid packages were mostly spent on HIV/AIDS prevention and control (accounting for 48% of the total), healthcare (26%), and the remainder for rural development, poverty reduction, education, vocational training, social affairs and environmental protection. At the gathering, the HCM City People’s Committee and the City’s Union of Friendship Organizations also presented the badges of HCM City to 40 individuals and collectives from INGOs. (www.hochiminhcity.gov.vn [1] April 26, vovnews.vn April 26)
