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PM Nguyen Tan Dung and World Bank Director in Vietnam, Klaus Rohland at the meeting. |
The two-day Consultative Group Meeting for Vietnam opens today in Hanoi, with the main focus on the implementation of Vietnam’s Socio-Economic Development Plan in the 2006-2010 period, with the participation, for the first time, of Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.
Addressing at the meeting, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said that Vietnam expects to achieve the level of middle income country by the end of its Socio-Economic Development Plan in the 2006-2010 period, with a GDP per capita of up to US $1050 -1100, maintaining an annual growth rate of between 7.5 to 8%.
He said that to reach those targets, Vietnam would need around US $140 billion in investment during 2006-2010, which should be mobilised from both domestic and foreign sources, adding that ODA will continue to play a key role, with disbursement in this period expected to be US $11 billion.”
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung also called on donors to continue their supports to Vietnam so that the country can achieve its development plan in the 2006 – 2010 period while committing to do the best to effectively utilise the ODA for the country’s economic development.
Co-chairing at the meeting, Minister of Vietnam’s Planning and Investment Vo Hong Phuc said in his opening speech: “2006 marks the Vietnamese government and donors’ efforts to improve ODA effectiveness and harmonisation of procedures.”
However, he said “ the implementation of the country’s five year development plan is a long way bearing both advantages and challenges, particularly after Vietnam’s admission to WTO. This requires a great effort from the Vietnamese government and people as well as assistance from the international community toward Vietnam.”
Country Director of the World Bank in Vietnam, Klaus Rohland, who is the co-chair of the meeting, welcomed the Prime Minister’s presence and said it reflected a strong commitment from the Vietnamese Government to better use ODA.
He said the Prime Minister’s presence, together with the recent enactment of the recent Decree on ODA Management and Utilisation, was strong commitments from the government side to improve the efficiency of ODA resource utilisation.
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