World Bank praises wise use of funds

HA NOI — The Vietnamese Government had effectively used the World Bank's financial support, particularly in education and social security, the bank's managing director Mahmoud Mohieldin said yesterday.

He made the comments at a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan in Ha Noi.

The World Bank's total financial commitment to Viet Nam as of February 2012 was nearly US$15 billion for 111 projects, mostly in the fields of transport, urban and rural development, energy, water resources management, public administration reforms, finance, education, healthcare and environment.

Mohieldin said the World Bank would continue focusing its financial support on education and agriculture to help Viet Nam develop a suitable system of social security services. Nhan said the World Bank's contributions to the country's development were appreciated and that he expected it to continue providing financial and technical support to help Viet Nam attain its goals, particularly in the realm of human resources.

In regards to social security, Nhan asked that the bank focus its resources on ensuring safety for people in cases of risk, poverty reduction and ensuring equal rights to access training opportunities.

He hoped the bank would continue helping Viet Nam maintain sustainable growth after becoming a middle-income country (having a minimum gross per capita income of $1,006). He also asked for the World Bank's continued support for the national anti-tuberculosis programme. — VNS