The U.K. gives Vietnam an annual non-refundable aid of £50 million ($100 million) for Vietnam between 2006 and 2010 within the framework of a 10-year bilateral agreement inked in 2006, state media reported, citing the U.K’s Ambassador to Vietnam, Mark Kent. The ambassador added that the two countries will discuss the assistance level for the 2011-2015 period early 2011, the Tien Phong newspaper reported. On the threshold of the 16th Consultative Group (CG) Meeting slated to open in Hanoi on December 3-4, Mark Kent told local media that the U.K. and the EU will pay special attention to Vietnam’s hot issues of climate change and anti-corruption. As of Nov 21, the U.K. businesses poured $2.15 billion in 120 projects in the Southeast Asian country, according to Vietnam Investment Review published by the Ministry of Planning and Investment. Trade between Vietnam and the U.K. is expected to reach $3 billion in the next years from $1.9 billion in 2008.
