Finland will provide 9.7 million EUR (12.5 million USD) for Vietnam to develop the management information system for its forest sector.

To this effect, an agreement between the two governments on providing official development assistance (ODA) for the Development of Management Information System for Forestry Sector project - Phase 2 (FORMIS II) was signed in Hanoi on May 24.

The signing is part of activities to mark the 40th anniversary of Vietnam-Finland diplomatic ties.

FORMIS II will be implemented nationwide in five years starting from April 2013 with a total investment of over 10.1 million EUR.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Finnish Ambassador to Vietnam Kimmo Lahdevirta expressed his hope that the five-component project will support the sustainable development of Vietnamese forest sector, minimise the impacts of climate change, and help people in remote areas gain access to open information sources in the field.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan spoke highly of the outcomes of FORMIS I (2009-2012), saying that they are very significant for the country’s forest sector and serve as an important premise for the Finnish government to continue its aid for the second phase.

Tuan affirmed that his ministry will do its utmost to ensure the efficiency of the project at the highest level, thus promoting the sustainable management of forest resources and contributing to Vietnam’s poverty reduction and socio-economic development.-VNA