Vietnam’s central province of Thua Thien Hue and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) have reached an agreement on a project to adjust Hue city’s general planning a budget of $3.5 million funded by the South Korean government. The two-year project aims to review the city’s general plan, survey areas targeted for the city’s expansion and make any necessary adjustments to facilitate for economic-social development, Chairman of Hue People’s Committee Phan Trong Vinh said. Apart from helping to improve local officials’ capacity in the field of urban planning and development, the project will also contribute to further strengthen cooperative relations in urban planning between the two countries. South Korea pledged to provide $411.8 million in official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam in the 2011 fiscal year, up 39% from a year earlier. (vovnews.vn Apr 17, hanoimoi.com Apr 17)
