HÀ NỘI — Twenty-two projects involved in irrigation, disaster prevention and clean water supplies had effectively used more than US$2.7 billion in official development assistant (ODA) over the past 25 years.

The statement was made by head of central management board for irrigation projects, Phạm Đình Văn, at a meeting in Hà Nội.

The proportion of ODA used since 1994 for irrigation accounted for 45 per cent of total funds for agriculture and rural development, said Văn.

Six projects with investment of $600 million would also be carried out from 2021-25, he added.

Speaking at the meeting, Hoàng Văn Thắng, deputy minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said ODA had been an essential source for developing Việt Nam’s irrigation sector.

ODA had helped Việt Nam restore, repair, upgrade and build many major irrigation systems such as Dầu Tiếng Reservoir, Bắc Hưng Hải Irrigation System and Cửa Đạt Reservoir, said the deputy minister.

“Most ODA loans for the irrigation sector have been used for infrastructure development, supporting production, hunger elimination and poverty reduction and disaster prevention,” Thắng said.

“In addition, many projects had supported the development of legal institutions and policies as well as strengthening the sector’s capacity from central to local levels,” he told the meeting.

There are five bilateral and multilateral donors including the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Japan International Co-operation Agency, the South Korea Economic Development Fund (via the Korean Export-Import Bank), the French Development Agency and the Global Environment Fund. 

“At present, the mobilisation, management and use of ODA as well as other loans have been changing due to changes of approach by partners and national policies,” Văn said.

“ODA funding will likely fall and be replaced by other less preferential loans and non-refundable aid from international organisations,” he said. — VNS