The World Bank (WB) has pledged to help Vietnam improve the country’s investment environment and support firms damaged by recent riots, said Victoria Kwakwa, country director for the WB in Vietnam. Ms. Kwakwa made the pledge at a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Hanoi on May 29 to discuss stronger cooperation ties between Vietnam and the bank. WB committed to helping Vietnam carry out the latter’s projects through the 17th replenishment of the International Development Assistance (IDA 17), she noted. Vietnam has taken specific support policies to help foreign-run businesses resume their operation following the recent disturbances in some localities allegedly sparked by China’s brazen and illegal placement of its oil rig in Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone, Mr. Dung said. The Vietnamese government leader said he will attend a dialogue with businesspeople in June. After recent riots, the Vietnamese government has taken bold measures, including delaying the collection of tax from the damaged companies for up to two years, to support the damaged companies. (vietnamplus.vn May 29, chinhphu.vn May 29, Tin Tuc – News May 30 p2, Sai Gon Giai Phong – Saigon Liberation May 30 p1)
