The Japanese government will provide a total JPY300 million in non-refundable aid in the form of industrial products supplied by tsunami-hit Japanese businesses to help Vietnam to develop transport system. Vietnam’s Transport Minister Dinh La Thang and Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yasuaki Tanizaki Wednesday signed an exchange note for the assistance in the capital city of Hanoi. The products include equipment to help students in study and scientific research, and support for training activities in the sectors of shipping, shipbuilding and marine environments, as well as equipment to improve the railway system. The MoT said that it assigned this project to Vietnam Maritime University and the aid will be implemented as from early April with the consultancy of the Japan International Cooperation System (JICS). The aid is scheduled to take effect in one year, and be completed at the end of the first quarter of 2013. Japan, which is among the biggest donors, pledged to provide $1.9 billion in official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam for the fiscal year of 2012. (Dau Tu – Investment Mar 21 p2, vietnamplus.vn Mar 21)
