DeputyMinister of Planning and Investment (MPI) Dang Huy Dong told a meetingon public-private partnerships (PPP) in Hanoi on May 4 that theGovernment expected the policy would attract not only investment, butalso advanced technology and managerial experience for the developmentof infrastructure and public services.
MPI reported that Vietnamneeded some 160 billion USD up to 2020, to invest in roads, bridges,sewerage and waste treatment facilities.
State budgets,Government bonds and official development assistance (ODA) will meetjust half of the demand, leaving the rest to enterprises both at homeand abroad.
The PPP policy making has been based on internationalrules which clarify requirements in economic efficiency, transparencyand equal competition between domestic and foreign investors. The PPPlegal framework calls on public and private investors to shareresponsibility, conduct an appropriate risk management while working forrational interests between the State, private sector and service users.
ThePPP scheme is expected to create a truly commercial PPP market inVietnam, prioritising projects on socio-economic development, rangingfrom bridges to subways, sea, river and airports, power and water supplyand sewerage.
The Director of the Private Sector OperationsDepartment under the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Philip C. Erquiga,backed the Vietnamese Government’s policy, describing the PPP model asan important tool to encourage the private sector to join ininfrastructure investment in the Asian-Pacific region and Vietnam inparticular.
He called on Vietnam to have a clear vision on therelevant policy and be better prepared for PPP projects by conductingfeasibility studies and considering social aspects.
Statefinancial assistance and subsidies as well as Government guaranteeswould play an important role in convincing the private sector to investin PPP projects, said the senior expert from the ADB, which is holdingits annual meeting in Vietnam.
He emphasised ADB’s willingness to help Vietnam in policymaking and fundraising in regard to PPP projects.
In fact, ADB signed a memorandum of understanding on multiple loans with the MPI in support of Vietnam’s pilot PPP projects.
TheDirector of the International Financial Corporation (IFC)-Cambodia,Thailand and Vietnam Region, Simon Andrews, called on Vietnam to focuson coordination of action among relevant ministries and agencies inhandling PPP projects, so as to place projects in a suitable order ofpriorities.
The PPP meeting took place on the sidelines of the ADB annual meeting, which entered the second day in Hanoi on May 4./.