Bac Lieu shows appropriate use of ODA in 2011-2016

Bac Lieu (VNA) - The Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu showed its appropriate use of official development assistance (ODA) capital during the 2011-2016 period as it disbursed 607 billion VND (26.6 million USD) of the allocated 775 billion VND (33.9 million USD), or nearly 90 percent.

The figures were reported during a working session between a working delegation of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee and the provincial People’s Committee on July 16.

According to reports, the province arranged nearly 315 billion VND (13.8 million USD) in corresponding capital for programmes and projects using ODA during the period, 296 billion VND (12.98 million USD) of which was disbursed, or 94 percent.

The ODA-funded programmes and projects in the locality focused on four main areas, namely agriculture, transport, healthcare, and education. Agriculture saw the largest number of 14 programmes and projects, while the other three fields recorded one each.

The provincial People’s Committee said the province’s management and use of foreign ODA in the 2011-2016 period was always conducted in line with law. More specifically, for projects directly invested in by the province, Bac Lieu closely managed the use of ODA and preferential loans, ensuring they were used for the correct purposes, with no tolerance of corruption, loss, or wastefulness. All works have proven effective after they were put into use.

However, Chairman of the Committee Duong Thanh Trung pointed out that there were no strategic ODA projects to boost local socio-economic development and the use of loans to invest in agricultural, transport, healthcare, and educational works remained asynchronous.

To use loans effectively, he suggested the Government consider arranging timely ODA capital for approved projects, focusing on pivotal ones of large scale.

On behalf of the working delegation, Nguyen Duc Hai, Chairman of the NA’s Finance-Budget Committee, spoke highly of Bac Lieu’s socio-economic development, including the implementation of ODA-funded projects, especially in the fields of clean energy and aquaculture.

Despite modest ODA capital allocated for Bac Lieu in recent times, the province’s use of this source was both suitable and in line with its development strategies and objectives, particularly in terms of health, agriculture, and climate change response, he said.

Earlier on in the day, the delegation inspected several projects and works that had used ODA in the province.-VNA