The World Bank will continue to materialize its cooperation plans with the capital of Hanoi, helping improve the city’s competitiveness and adaptability to become a livable city, says outgoing WB Country Director Ousmane Dione.

Outgoing WB Country Director Ousmane Dione (L) hails cooperation projects
with Hanoi and pledges additional WB support to the capital. (Photo:HNM)

Dione told Hanoi Mayor Nguyen Duc Chung at a reception on June 8 that cooperation projects between the WB and Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular have been bearing fruit, especially in the areas of transportation, water and air quality improvements, climate change adaptation, flooding resistance, and digital transformation. 

He congratulated Vietnam and Hanoi on its initial success in containing the COVID-19 epidemic, saying this is a typical model for others to follow suit. He thanked the Hanoi administration for close collaboration over the years and affirmed the WB will consolidate and strengthen relations between the two sides. 

The outgoing WB Country Director expressed his belief Vietnam will be a bright star in development in the region and the world. 

For his part, Mayor Nguyen Duc Chung appreciated donor support, including that of the World Bank, in implementing development projects and improving the quality of life in the capital over the years.  

He informed his guest that despite negative effects of the COVID-19 epidemic, Hanoi is projected to achieve an economic growth of 3.39% in the first 6 months of the year. 

Hanoi is keen to meet investors to listen to opinions, discuss and iron out their snags, in an attempt to halt the investment downward trend, Chung said, adding that the city has worked out plans to receive foreign capital from the shifting of investment capital flow globally in the coming time.

Chung invited Dione to attend and speak at an investment promotion conference slated for Hanoi on June 27.