Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has allowed agencies to negotiate with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on a $95 million loan for the Secondary Cities Development Project, the An Ninh Thu Do newspaper reported on Aug 16. An association, led by a representative from the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), will be established for the negotiation, which is scheduled to be conducted between Aug 19 and 21 in Manila. Earlier, the government leader approved the project, which costs a total $121.71 million, to upgrade the water supply, sanitation system and other critical urban development issues in the three cities of provinces of Dak Lak, Quang Nam and Ha Tinh. The project to be carried out within five years aims to develop Tam Ky, Ha Tinh and Buon Ma Thuot into regional economic hubs, thus fostering balanced regional development. (An Ninh Thu Do – Capital Security Aug 16 p17, baodientuchinhphu.vn Aug 16)
