Viet Nam should avoid being left behind in the post-COVID-19 pandemic time by accelerating ODA disbursement rate and digital transformation, suggested World Bank Regional Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific (EAP) Victoria Kwakwa.

The online meeting betwween Minister-Chairman of the Office of the Government (OoG)
Mai Tien Dung and World Bank Regional Vice President
for East Asia and the Pacific (EAP) Victoria Kwakwa

The Vice President made the point on March 25 at an online meeting with Minister-Chairman of the Office of the Government Mai Tien Dung.

Present at the meeting included World Bank Country Director for Viet Nam Carolyn Turk. 

Dung stressed that Viet Nam always treasures the effective support of the WB and the Vice President for Viet Nam.  

The international lender has partnered with the Vietnamese Government in the COVID-19 pandemic fight, administrative reform, e-Government building, and deployment of the Partnership Framework between the Government Office and the WB on e-Government building.

Since 1994 when the relations were resumed, the WB has provided about US$ 25 billion for the Southeast Asian country.

Over the past five years, both sides have inked 12 agreements with a total value of US$ 2.5 billion. 

Minister Dung thanked the WB for extension of deadlines for nine projects and provision of US$84.4 million to finance Viet Nam’s muti-sectoral policy reform. 

In reply, Vice President Victoria Kwakwa said that the post-pandemic world is digital, thus it is necessary for Viet Nam to inherit and uphold achievements gained to provide more public services for citizens and businesses. She affirmed that the WB is willing to cooperate with support Viet Nam during the process. 

In addition, the post pandemic also offers a good opportunity for the Southeast Asian nation to accelerate green growth. The WB has been preparing another Country Partnership Strategy framework with Viet Nam which will be applied in the next couples of year. The framework is expected to support Viet Nam to overcome weaknesses, maintain competitiveness, and boost green growth./.