Vietnam PM Approves World Bank-funded Project on Climate Change

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a technical assistance project named ‘Vietnam Climate Innovation Centre’ (VCIC) funded by the World Bank. The project has a total  investment of $4.18 million including non-refundable aid of $3.8 million from the World Bank and a counterpart fund of $380,000 from the Vietnamese government. The project will be carried out from August 2015 to July 2019 with the aim of assisting entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises in developing innovative climate technology solutions and boosting green business activities through the establishment and operation of the VCIC. The project consists of three components including the establishment and operation of the VCIC and policy development on innovation to respond to climate change; services to develop businesses and technology in response to climate change; and building an electronic portal, a database and other facilities to support business activities. The Vietnam's Ministry of Science and Technology has been assigned as the projects director responsible for leading the government approval process. (Nhan Dan – The People Aug 14)