Many stores in the Old Quarter of Hanoi have closed in efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) isready to provide Vietnam with timely and flexible support for the Government’sresponse to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Asian Development Bank stands ready to provide financialassistance and policy advice to help the Government of Vietnam contain thespread of COVID-19,” ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa said.
He added that the bank will consider all options, includingquick-disbursing budget support, policy-based lending, and expediteddisbursement of existing loans, to ensure any support package can be approvedquickly and disbursed in a timely manner.
The ADB President also commended the Vietnamese Government onits timely and effective actions to combat the pandemic. He welcomed its focuson maintaining economic stability and growth in the medium and long-term,including through expanding public investment expenditure and strengtheningsocial safety nets for poor and vulnerable households.
The lender has announced an initial support package of 6.5billion USD to address the immediate needs of its developing membercountries, including Vietnam, as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The bank said it will provide additional supportas needed./.
VNA
