WB Country Director hails VN as typical example in COVID-19 fight

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Country Director of the World Bank in Viet Nam Carolyn Turk, Ha Noi, October 21, 2020 – Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu

Turk made the above statement at her meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Tuesday.

She stressed that the dual achievement gives competitive edge to the Southeast Asian country in global supply chain as many major business giants told her that they plan to relocate their production facilities to Viet Nam.

This is a good time for Viet Nam to position itself in the global economy and the country has a good chance to accelerate e-Government development, digital transformation, and telehealth among others, said Turk, affirming the WB stands ready to offer financial assistance and policy recommendations for Viet Nam.

She also committed to working with Vietnamese ministries and agencies to step up disbursement rate of official development assistance (ODA) and suggested the country should further simplify disbursement procedures.

Turk took the occasion to expressed sympathy to Vietnamese people over the damages caused by recent national disasters in central Viet Nam, pledging to make every effort to support the affected people.

Meanwhile, PM Phuc congratulated Carolyn Turk on her appointment as new WB Country Director in Viet Nam, saying that he will chair a national conference to seek ways to beef up ODA disbursement.

He welcomed the WB’s initiative to provide financial and technical package to assist countries in curbing the COVID-19 pandemic, including US$6.2 million for Viet Nam.

As Viet Nam is building 2021-2026 socio-economic development and public investment plans, the PM proposed that the WB continue partnering with the Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities to prepare effective projects to meet the development demand./.

By Kim Anh