Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam Nguyen Van Giau said at a recent press conference in Hanoi that Asian Development Bank (ADB) will hold its 44th annual meeting in Vietnam for the first time in Hanoi from May 3-6, 2011.
The event is expected to draw around 5,000 delegates from 67 countries and territories, international organisations, multilateral financial institutions and non-governmental organisations as well as academics and entrepreneurs from around the world.
Topping the agenda will be a wide range of measures to prevent risks affecting long-term socioeconomic development, foster sustainable and environmentally friendly growth, step up regional cooperation and initiate a joint response to climate change.
Mr Giau said the important annual meeting aims to discuss the global socioeconomic situation to seek solutions and targets for following years.
Hence, the hosting of the ADB Annual Meeting is an important major international event. This is a good opportunity for Vietnam to boost its image worldwide and to promote cooperation and investment relations in all fields.
ADB’s General Secretary Robert Dawson said that Vietnam had been chosen to host the meeting thanks to the active part it plays in ADB’s operations, adding that the ADB also chose Vietnam because of the huge achievements it has recorded in socioeconomic development, especially its efforts to reduce poverty, as well as its growing position in the global community.Vietnam is among the largest beneficiaries of the lender. On other hand, Vietnam is a friendly and safe country and an attractive destination of international friends, visitors and investors.
Founded in 1966, ADB currently has 67 members, including 48 members from the Asia-Pacific region and 19 members from other regions. Vietnam officially became a member of the bank in 1966. After interrupting the cooperation for a few years, Vietnam and ADB resumed the relations in 1993.
Since 1993, the two sides actively uplifted the relations. Vietnam is now the third largest recipient of soft loans from the ADB, after Bangladesh and Pakistan. By the end of November 2009, ADB had funded 87 programmes and projects in Vietnam with a combined capital of more than US$8 billion, including 38 completed projects worth US$3.1 billion.
ADB focuses on funding projects to eradicate hunger, reduce poverty, improve people’s living conditions, reform policies, enhance institutions, develop the country’s infrastructure, and train workers.
In 2010, the bank plans to sponsor 16 projects to the tune of over US$1.3 billion, including some US$850 million coming from the ordinary capital resources (OCR) source and US$455 million from Asian Development Fund (ADF). Besides, ADB has also earmarked US$117 million for Vietnam to support 229 technical assistance projects, which will benefit several ministries and sectors.
Mai Ngoc
Vietnamese
