IFAD’s new country director formally presented her credentials to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Đặng Hoàng Giang on July 30. Photo courtesy of IFAD

HÀ NỘI - The International Fund for Agricultural Development’s (IFAD) newly appointed Country Director for Việt Nam and Head of Multi-Country Office in Hà Nội, Enika Basu, formally presented her credentials to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Đặng Hoàng Giang on July 30.

Prior to her appointment, she served as Senior Adviser to the Associate Vice-President of IFAD’s Department of Country Operations at IFAD Headquarters in Rome, Italy, where she contributed to corporate initiatives, including partnerships with multilateral development banks and global financing mechanisms, while supporting the strategic oversight of IFAD’s portfolio and pipeline at a country level.

Before joining IFAD, Basu worked with a Rome-based research institute supporting European Commission programmes on labour market integration across the European Union. She also worked with the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad in India and civil society organisations to support rural micro and small enterprises and develop microinsurance solutions for workers in the informal economy.

“I am honoured to lead IFAD’s work in Việt Nam at a time when the country is pursuing an ambitious vision for sustainable, resilient and inclusive rural transformation, including its commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050,” said Basu.

“IFAD looks forward to working closely with the Government of Việt Nam, provincial authorities, development partners, the private sector and rural communities to advance greener agriculture and food systems, and expand economic opportunities for small-scale farmers and rural people,” she said.

Basu added that the body is also committed to supporting the country in showcasing and sharing its successful development model and strategies with other developing countries through South-South cooperation.

Over the last three decades, IFAD has invested US$537 million of its own resources in 19 projects, for an overall value of $918 million. These initiatives have directly reached over 1.4 million rural households, improving rural livelihoods and increasing incomes.

The Fund currently invests in two ongoing projects with a total value of nearly $200 million, focusing on climate-adaptation and resilience for rural communities and aligned with the Vietnamese Government’s Vision 2045. VNS