A Finnish-funded programme on socio-economic development and social welfare has been paid off after a ten-year implementation in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, said a local official.

The programme with a total investment of over 15 million EUR was deployed in the three districts of Phong Dien, Huong Tra and Huong Thuy from November, 1999.

Provincial People’s Committee Deputy Chairman Nguyen Van Cao said in the first phase from 1999-2003, the programme helped Phong Dien improve its infrastructure for economic development, cut its poverty rate to 12 percent in 2003 from 25 percent in 1999, create more job for the locals and reduce migration.

After Phong Dien, the programme expanded to Huong Thuy and Huong Tra districts in the second phase from 2004-2009 and achieved many successes.

The programme provided financial and technical assistance for rice production; peanut, cassava and fruit tree plantation; and pig, buffalo and cow raising along with building roads, bridges, irrigation systems, health care stations and community houses.

The programme also assisted the two districts in improving their capacity in administrative reforms, human resource development and land use planning.

The Finnish government has recently decided to provide an aid package worth 915 million VND to help the three districts rebuild their infrastructure destroyed by Typhoon Ketsana./.