Nhat Tan Bridge in Hanoi is one of many infrastructure projects in the country built with Japanese ODA. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Disbursement of official development assistance (ODA) inthe first half of the year was estimated at more than 4.17 trillion VND (179.7million USD), accounting for only 6.9 percent of the National Assembly’s planand 12.7 percent of that assigned by the Prime Minister, according to theMinistry of Planning and Investment (MPI).
Eight of 59 localities had a disbursement rate of more than 30 percent,including Hai Phong, Ninh Binh, Phu Yen, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, TraVinh, Kien Giang and Bac Lieu. The rate was below 30 percent at 11 ministriesand sectors and zero in 28 other localities.
The MPI said that a lack of corresponding funds has made it impossible toabsorb foreign capital, resulting in the slow disbursement of ODA. Meanwhile,several projects have not completed investment procedures or been in theprocess to adjust total investment capital or extend loan agreements.
Besides, low readiness of projects has affected the disbursement progress. Althoughmany are arranged with enough capital like urban transport project in Hai Phongcity, project on upgrading Can Tho University and project on expanding Hoa BinhGeneral Hospital, money could not be disbursed due to bottlenecks in landclearance and resettlement.
The ministry has set up working groups to supervise ODA disbursement in keysectors, and devise measures to accelerate the progress.-VNA
VNA
