The Swedish government plans to stop providing grants to Vietnam, but it will continue to provide soft loans to help the Southeast Asian nation’s socio-economic development, Ambassador Camilla Mellander said. “Sweden wants to change the nature of its development assistance to Vietnam to partner-driven initiatives,” Ms. Mellander said at a conference on showcasing 46 years of development cooperation between Sweden and Vietnam in Hanoi on Nov 4. Sweden will not fund entire projects in Vietnam but only shares expenses just like other partners, she noted, adding that the country seek private partnerships in friendly environment technology, energy saving and education. Sweden is one of the first Western nations providing aid to Vietnam, beginning in 1969. For the past 46 years, Sweden has provided Vietnam with $3.46 billion in grants so far. Support from the Swedish development first focused on humanitarian assistance and infrastructure. Afterwards, the funding primarily went to research institutions, reform, poverty alleviation, environment protection, health care and other fields. Sweden-funded projects included the Swedish Hospital in Hanoi, Uong Bi Hospital, Bai Bang Paper Mill and others in health, energy, forestry, rural development in five mountainous northern provinces. (vietnamplus.vn Nov 4, thanhtra.com.vn Nov 4)
