(MPI Portal) – Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh had a meeting with Mr. Akihiko Tanaka, President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on August 26th 2013.
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Minister Bui Quang Vinh and Mr. Akihiko Tanaka, President of JICA at the working event. Photo: Thanh Son (MPI Portal)
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Minister Bui Quang Vinh appreciated the support of Japan. The largest transport projects of Vietnam have been contributed to by Japanese ODA as Noi Bai airport, Nhat Tan Bridge, Ring Road 3 ... helping improve the investment environment in Vietnam. Not only in terms of finance, technique, Japan’s support for Vietnam has also covered strategy building, selections of advantaged branches, sectors for Vietnam’s socio-economic development. Industrialization Strategy of Vietnam in the framework of Vietnam - Japan relationship toward 2020, vision to 2030 approved on July 2013 is one of the joint efforts of both countries to build a clear direction for the Vietnam's industrialization development.
The Vietnam – Japan Joint Initiative is a special cooperation of both countries, to create a forum for policy dialogue between Japanese investors with relevant ministries and agencies of Vietnam with the aim of setting up an open and transparent investment environment in Vietnam. Besides, it also contributes to suggest constructive recommendations as reference for the process of finalizing laws and policies of the authorities in Vietnam.
Minister Bui Quang Vinh hoped to continuously receive the assistance of JICA in enhancing the operating capacity of the authorities from central to local level, in order to improve competitiveness of the Vietnam's economy.
Mr. Akihiko Tanaka said that Vietnam's economy is making encouraging progress. In 2012, the support from Vietnam Government was helpful to improve the concern of inflation in Vietnam. With the strength of the financial reforms he hoped that Japan would support Vietnam to achieve superior results.
At the meeting, Mr. Akihiko Tanaka also expressed concern about the efficiency of Japanese ODA use, while referring to the delay in project implementation, due to problems in the landing clearance and payments to contractors.
Thanks for the suggestion of Mr. Akihiko Tanaka, Minister Bui Quang Vinh affirmed that most of the projects funded by Japanese ODA have been used effectively. Slow disbursements of some projects were for many reasons but the most common cause is of landing clearance issues due to the Land Law of Vietnam. Counterpart funds and the project preparation were the next issues.
Minister Bui Quang Vinh said that the Prime Minister has signed a decision to spend 5.5 trillion VND as counterpart fund for ODA projects in the future, including Japan's ODA projects. The projects would be expected to be sped up in the coming time. /.