IFAD to expand operation in Vietnam

Rome (VNA) – President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) under the UN Kanayo F. Nwanze has announced that his agency will enlarge its operation in Vietnam in the next three years.

At a recent reception for Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Cao Chinh Thien, who was newly appointed as Permanent Representative of Vietnam to IFAD, Kanayo stressed that Vietnam sets an example in rural development and poverty reduction for development countries, especially those in Africa, to follow.

He highlighted the increasing number of projects approved to be carried out in Vietnam as well as their efficiency, affirming that this shows the Vietnamese Government’s strong effortsin eliminating hunger and reducing poverty, and promoting agricultural development.

Vietnam’s endeavours help reinforce trust of IFAD’s donors, thus maintaining their aid for the fund, he said.

According to Kanayo, his agency will consider attending the annual meeting of ASEAN agricultural ministers, which is organised in rotation in the bloc’s member nations, to discuss orientations for IFAD’s investment in the region with the aim of seeking markets for farm produce by households.

He expressed his wish that the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy will support IFAD’s initiative to hold a meeting of ASEAN countries’ ambassadors in Rome in 2016.

For his part, Thien thanked IFAD for its assistance for Vietnam in the recent time, reaffirming the Vietnamese Government’s commitment to poverty alleviation and rural development.

He said he will do his best to promote Vietnam-IFAD relations, especially in connecting farm produce markets in ASEAN member states.

Data provided by IFAD said the fund’s total investment in Vietnam exceeded over 500 million USD with 13 agricultural development projects targeting household-scale production.-VNA