Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has agreed to extend the implementing period of a Belgium-funded poverty reduction project in the central province of Nghe An to Sept 3, 2014. The project totaling EUR3.7 million, carried out from 2009 and expected to conclude in 2013, uses EUR2.5 million worth ODA loan from the Belgium government. No reason was cited for the extension of the implementation period. The project aims to enhance socio-economic development through the improvement of public administration at provincial, district and communal levels and provide services for the poor and disadvantaged people. So far, up to 2.1 million households across Vietnam are deemed poor and 1.4 million near-poor, accounting for 9.46 and 6.75% of the national population, according to the Ministry of Labor, Invalid and Social Affairs. (baodientu.chinhphu.vn Nov 11)
