Information & Communication

UNDP Hails Vietnam Poverty Reduction Program

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has hailed Vietnam’s poverty reduction program named 135 as it has benefited many poor people in difficult communes of mountainous areas. The second phase of the program 135 slated from 2006 to 2010 has helped develop rural economy and improved people’s lives in remote areas, said Setsuko Yamajaki, UNDP country director in Vietnam at a conference in Hanoi Nov 19. Under the program in the second phase, VND13.9 trillion ($777.5 million) has been poured into 12,377 infrastructure projects and 2,017 agricultural training courses in 50 provinces so far. Between 2006 and 2009, six foreign organizations financed $300 million for the program.

Vietnam PM OKs VND4T More for Policy Banks to Raise Capital

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved allocating VND4 trillion ($223 million) for three policy banks to raise their registered capital, the Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper reported Monday. Of the funding, VND1.012 trillion will be funneled into the Vietnam Bank for Social Policy, VND2 trillion will go to the Vietnam Development Bank and VND1 trillion will go to the Central People’s Credit Fund. The funding is part of a total of VND10.026 trillion ($560.8 million) the government has allocated for its 8th Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC-8) program with aims to reduce poverty.

Vietnam PM Approves VND300B More for Poverty Reduction Program

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has given a nod to add VND300 billion ($16.8 million) to the national targeted poverty reduction program for next year. Of the funding, VND291.1 billion will go to 62 provinces and cities across the country, excluding Ho Chi Minh City and VND8.9 billion to government agencies, the Nguoi Lao Dong Online reported Monday. The PM previously decided to supply freely 2,080 tons of crop seeds, including 1,800 tons of rice seeds, 200 tons of maize seeds and 80 tons of vegetables seeds, to farmers in the localities affected by Ketsana and Mirinae typhoons.

31% of Vietnamese Children Classed as Poor

The Vietnamese Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Nov. 26 released a report on new approach to poor Vietnamese children. This new methodology is also part of a cooperation program between the Vietnamese government and UNICEF for the 2006-2009 period. A child is considered to be poor if he/she fails to meet at least two of eight basic requirements, including education, health care, housing, clean water, hygiene, labor safety, entertainment and social welfare.
This means that, if based on the new criteria, Vietnam has around 7 million poor children, or 31% of children in the country.

Hanoi Builds 3,000 Houses for the Poor Jan-Nov

Hanoi has built 2,943 houses given to poor families in the last eleven months, accounting for 76.5% of the plan, the Communist Party of Vietnam said on its website. The information was given during a meeting of the steering committee of humanitarian blood donation and the building of houses for the poor in 29 districts and towns. The city has collected 53,795 units of blood since the beginning of the year, accounting for 76.9% of the plan, according to the steering committee. From now until the end of the year, the city will encourage the donation of another 16,205 units of blood and exceed the plan for building houses for the poor.

Spain Funds $125.9M for Infrastructure Development in Vietnam Province

The government of Spain has financed VND2.328 trillion ($125.9 million) to 22 projects to develop rural infrastructure and production in Vietnam’s northern province of Quang Ninh, the Thoi bao Kinh te newspaper reported Thursday. Ten of these projects will be implemented in Dong Trieu district and the rest in Hai Ha district, the newspaper said, adding that all are slated for completion early next year.  With a total investment of VND6 trillion ($324.5 million), these projects aim to supply equipments for local production and help improve rural infrastructure facilities in the two districts.

WB to Grant $1.35M for Vietnam’s PPP Program in Infrastructure

The World Bank (WB) will grant $1.35 million to help Vietnam develop Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Program in infrastructure development. The loan was announced by the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) at a seminar jointly held by the ministry and the World Bank in Hanoi on Tuesday, the Vietnam News Agency said. Of the sum, $850,000 will be used for Vietnam to build a market-oriented financing mechanism for the PPP program and the rest will be used to build an office. The World Bank Country Director in Vietnam, Victoria Kwakwa, said that the success of pilot PPP projects has attracted more the private sector’s investment in infrastructure construction.

Vietnam PM Approves VND1.6T HIV/AIDS Prevention Project

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has given a nod to a HIV/AIDS prevention project with an estimated cost of VND1.59 trillion to strengthen capabilities of provincial and municipal authorities, the Hanoi Moi newspaper reported Nov 25, citing a source from the health ministry.  Of the total, VND1.06 trillion comes from the state budget and VND526 billion from local budgets. The remaining sum will be mobilized from ODA capitals and other international aid sources. The project aims to build and upgrade 100% of HIV/AIDS prevention centers in provinces and cities by 2015. It targets 65% of these centers’ staff and workers to be university and post-university graduates and 100% of them to be trained professionally by that year.

Int’l Odonto-Maxillo-Facial Conference & Dental Expo Open in Vietnam

More than 1,000 Vietnamese and foreign professors and doctors took part in the International Odonto-Maxillo-Facial Conference and the 7th International Dental Exhibition in Hanoi on Nov. 25. During the conference, leading professors and doctors from U.S., Germany, Japan, France, South Korea, China, Singapore, Thailand, India, New Zealand and Vietnam discussed the application of advanced technology in dental care, surgery and implants and the treatment for child facial cancer. Meanwhile, forty prestigious companies showcased advanced technologies, medicines and medical equipment at the exhibition. On the same day, President Triet met with them and called for their further cooperation in the odonto-maxillo-facial field.

Vietnam Medi-Pharm Expo 2009 to Open in Hanoi Dec 2-5

Around 250 pharmaceutical and medical equipment companies worldwide will showcase their products at the Vietnam Medi-Pharm Expo 2009 that is scheduled to open in Hanoi between Dec. 2-5. During the event, the 16th of its kind, companies from France, Belgium, Czech, U.S., India, South Korea, China, Taiwan and Malaysia will exhibit medicines, vaccines, foodstuffs and medical equipment via 300 booths. Chairman of the Vietnam Pharmaceutical Companies Association (VNPCA) Do Van Doanh told a press briefing Wednesday that the event will be an integral part of the national key trade promotions program. This will be a good opportunity to help local and foreign businesses seek out new partners, experience exchange and technology transfer.

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