Japan Signs Agreements to Provide $936M in ODA for Vietnam

The Japanese government on Mar 31 signed agreements to provide JPY112.41 billion ($936 million) in official development assistance (ODA) for seven programs and projects in Vietnam in the fiscal year 2014. The agreements were signed by Vietnamese Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh and Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Hiroshi Fukada in Hanoi, state media reported on April 1. The figure dropped 40% compared to that pledged by Japan for Vietnam in the fiscal year 2013. Of the sum, JPY31.33 billion will go to the Ben Luc-Long Thanh expressway, JPY29.78 billion for a credit project for power networks, JPY14.9 billion for the second phase of the Nhon Trach water supply project and JPY9.87 billion for the Thai Binh 1 thermo-power plant and its power transmission line. The remainder will be used for projects focusing on the wastewater treatment, education and climate change. Japan, the biggest bilateral donor of ODA for Vietnam, has pledged to provide over $21 billion in ODA for Vietnam, primarily in infrastructure development and climate change response. (Thoi Bao Kinh Te – Economic Times Apr 1 p4, Dau Tu Apr 1 p2, chinhphu.vn Mar 31, vietnamplus.vn Mar 31)