Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Vietnamese Ministry of Finance will sign five credit agreements for some programs and projects in the Southeast Asian nation today [Nov 2]. With the funding, total Japanese official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam is expected to hit JPY1.778 trillion ($22.74 billion) so far, the Dau tu newspaper reported. Vietnam and Japan signed notes of exchange for an ODA worth JPY92.64 billion for the programs and projects on Oct 31. The fund will be used for five projects, including Lach Huyen port, Ben Luc-Long Thanh expressway. The Japanese fund mainly focuses big programs and projects in Vietnam, especially in energy, infrastructure, agriculture and rural development, the Ministry of Planning and Investment said. Many Japan-funded projects have been completed and put in use in Vietnam, including Tan Son Nhat international airport, Pha Lai and Phu My hydropower plants, Bai Chay and Thanh Tri bridges and Cai Mep-Thi Vai port, the ministry noted. It also added that a number of Vietnamese projects will get assistance from Japanese such as North-South expressway, Hoa Lac hi-tech park, Ho Chi Minh City-Nha Trang and Hanoi-Vinh express railways.
Besides, the Japanese government will providing more supports for some other projects in Vietnam, including Ninh Binh-Bai Vot and Nha Trang-Phan Thiet expressways and metro routes in Hanoi and HCM City. Japan, the biggest bilateral donor in Vietnam, pledged $1.76 billion out of $7.9 billion in ODA provided by international donors for the Southeast Asian nation this year. (Dau tu – Investment Nov 2 p4)
