JICA official: Payment delay – barrier to ODA-funded projects

Payment and site clearance delay are major barriers to official development assistance (ODA)-funded projects in Vietnam, chief representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said.
JICA official: Payment delay – barrier to ODA-funded projects ảnh 1Illustrative image (Source: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Payment and site clearance delayare major barriers to official development assistance (ODA)-funded projects inVietnam, chief representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA) in Vietnam Fujita Yasuo told a press conference in Hanoi on October 18.

In the first half of the fiscal year 2017 from April 1 –September 30, Japanese ODA-funded projects brought fruits to Vietnam, mostly inthe three pillars of promoting growth and competitiveness, coping withvulnerable issues and strengthening governance. Among them are a north-southhighway and a project to transfer vaccine production technology to Vietnam’sState-run POLYVAC company.

Procurement data also showed that Vietnamese firms wonnumerous contracts via ODA projects.

Yasuo said JICA highly values the Vietnamese government’sefforts to limit public debts, adding that ODA disbursement is not a majorfactor to increase public debts.

JICA suggests the Vietnamese government continue reviewingprocedures to promptly decide on budget allocation for projects using loans, hesaid.

In the near future, JICA will continue working more closelywith the Vietnamese government to discuss how to effectively devise and carryout priority projects, use capital from the private sector and Japanese firms.

During the six-month period, Japan committed nearly 61.8billion JPY worth of ODA to new projects, 51.2 billion USD of which wasdisbursed.

A project using non-refundable aid worth 1.8 billionJPY was also signed.-VNA
VNA

See more

Vice Chairman of the Bac Giang People's Committee Mai Son (Photo: bacgiang.gov.vn)

Bac Giang speeds up non-state budget investment projects

In the coming period, the northern province of Bac Giang will focus on addressing challenges to non-state budget investment projects and expediting their progress, affirmed Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Mai Son.

Representatives from industry associations share insights on Vietnam’s market trends. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Thailand boost industrial trade exchange

Trade between Vietnam and Thailand reached 20.18 billion USD in 2024, up 6.4% year-on-year. Thailand remained Vietnam’s top ASEAN trade partner, accounting for 24% of its total trade with the bloc.

Representatives from Lao and Vietnamese agencies at the signing ceremony. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Laos strengthen energy cooperation

A 1,200 MW wind power plant in Nong district, Laos’ Savannakhet province is expected to export 1,526 kWh to Vietnam annually once its first phase completes by the end of 2027, and additionally 1,112 million kWh per year after its second phase becomes operational in 2030./

A view of the Hanoi skyline. While rental properties continue to be in demand, there has also been a notable rise in the number of foreigners looking to buy houses. (Photo: VNA)

Housing demand from foreigners in Hanoi rises

Over several years, Hanoi has increasingly become an attractive destination for foreign workers, with approximately 10,000 new foreign workers are granted licences to work in the city each year.

A high-tech corn, sorghum and grass farm in Nghe An province (Photo: VNA)

Realising circular economy to achieve sustainable development goals

Developing a circular economy has been recognised as one of the priority directions to achieve overarching goals such as waste management, efficient resources utilisation, environmental protection, disaster prevention, and climate change adaptation in the country's next development phase.