(MPI Portal) – On January 14th, in Hanoi, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) for Vietnam, which set out the direction of support agendas of USAID in Vietnam for the period 2014 - 2018. At this event, USAID and the Ministry of Justice also signed a memorandum for official implementation the Governance for Comprehensive Growth Project funded by USAID.
 |
United State Ambassador in Vietnam David Shear.
Photo: Duc Trung (MPI Portal) |
Attending the event, there were United State Ambassador in Vietnam David Shear, Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Justice Hoang The Lien, Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Congress Ngo Duc Manh, development partners and representatives of media agencies.
The new CDCS of USAID provided a foundation for the planning, budgeting and implementing of USAID assistance to Vietnam in the next 5 years. With this strategy, USAID will strengthen the new Vietnam - US comprehensive Partnership and solve basic development challenges in order to support Vietnam to continue its transition into a responsible partner and be participated more by all components.
At the ceremony, Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh thanked the USAID for its effort in building CDCS of the United State in Vietnam for the period 2014 - 2018. An establishment of comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and the USA was declared at the same time, forming the framework of bilateral cooperation to new stage, as well as development orientation in the coming years, including: cooperation on economy, education and training, environment and health. The visit to the USA of President Truong Tan Sang in July 2013 was significant landmark in bilateral relation between Vietnam and the USA. The launching of the CDCS of the USA in Vietnam for the period 2014 – 2018 is to concretize the cooperation relationship of Vietnam – the USA.
Speaking at the ceremony, Director of USAID in Vietnam, Mr. Joakim Parker said that the Governance for comprehensive Growth Project is a specific example for the USA to deploy the strategy’s content in fact. This project directly supports to sustainable, intensive and extensive growth, including commercial sector, solving development issues related to women, ethnic minorities and vulnerable population groups. The USA hopes that the project would support Vietnam’s desire to become a responsible international partner and being participated by all components.
 |
|
The signing ceremony. Photo: Duc Trung (MPI Portal) |
This project continues the success of assistance programme on governance and economic growth of USAID in Vietnam. The project will focus to improve process of policy building in Vietnam as well as assist to improve institutional environment and public management, simultaneously strengthen monitoring, management on operation and governmental accountability mechanisms. The project will include capacity building support related to Agreement of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). All the activities in this project will be designed to increase opportunities of participation in terms of socio – economic aspect for population groups such as women, ethnic minorities and vulnerable population groups.
The 5 year project which is worth $42 million, will be implemented by a group of international organizations headed by Chemonics International, through a competitive bidding process. The project will draw the direct involvement of the National Assembly, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning and Investment, the State Audit and Ministry of Justice of Vietnam./.