The Global Competitiveness Facility under the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) on Sept. 23 launched a programme to assist Vietnamese enterprises in the 2011-2013 period.

Under the programme, GCF will provide 216 billion VND (10.3 million USD) as non-refundable aid to between 50-60 private and non-State economic organisations in Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen, Dac Lac, Lam Dong, An Giang and Can Tho provinces.

Enterprises involving in agriculture, farm produce processing, fisheries, aquaculture, handicrafts and tourism will be given priority. Top priority will be given to female entrepreneur producers.

GCF’s programme aims to help develop trade services, which bring active and long-term benefits to the development of the value chain towards exports. It also helps reduce financial risk for private and non-State organisations, which are providing new business services and new technology or are seeking new export markets and applying new business models.

In the 2006-2010 period, GCF granted 135 billion VND to 52 Vietnamese enterprises in Ha Tay, Nghe An, Khanh Hoa and Lam Dong provinces, generating 6,396 jobs for local people./.