PM suggests OFID expand cooperation with private sector

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) director general Abdullhamid Alkhalifa, Ha Noi, August 27, 2019 - Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc made that statement on August 27 while receiving director general of the OFID Abdullhamid Alkhalifa. 

At the meeting, Phuc highlighted the good relationship between the OFID and Viet Nam over the recent 40 years, especially 20 projects and programs in fields of transport, irrigation, poverty reduction, health, education and urban development at a number of localities in Viet Nam, which have improved the local people’s lives. 

The director general of the OFID’s working visit to Viet Nam aims to sign an aid agreement for improving transport infrastructure in the central city of Da Nang, which is regarded as a crucial mark in the enhanced and close cooperation period between the Vietnamese Government and the OFID. 

Viet Nam has become a middle-income nation, however, disadvantaged areas need more investment resources, particularly infrastructure, said Phuc, expecting that the OFID to continue its support, especially areas of its advantage through non-refundable aid and help the country get access to loans of the OFID with more preferential interest rates. 

Viet Nam will join hands with the OFID to establish projects and programs to meet priorities of the OFID and the nation’s socio-economic development strategy orientations, he said.  

The Vietnamese Government hopes that the OFID and the general director consider applying preferential lending  conditions for Viet Nam to facilitate the nation’s localities to get access and use the capital resource, making contributions to developing the relationship between the two sides. 

For his side, Abdullhamid Alkhalifa said that the OFID is willing to assist Viet Nam and cooperate with the country in launching projects, expressing his hope that the Vietnamese Government considers OFID as a reliable partner. 

By Thuy Dung