Binh Dinh makes ODA call out for project wish-list

Binh Dinh has identified break-through projects that could transform the province

Located in the southern-central coastal region, Binh Dinh is a key gateway to the country’s highland provinces, southern Laos and northeast Cambodia and Thailand.

The province has rich maritime and other natural resources, and huge potential for tourism. However, like many other provinces in Vietnam, Binh Dinh is facing many challenges in its economic development. Those challenges include underdeveloped infrastructure and an economy that remains dependent on agriculture. Because the province is located in the central coastal region, it regularly suffers from natural disasters such as typhoons.

Binh Dinh has learnt the importance of utilising all available resources to develop. As investment from the private sector in transportation infrastructure, healthcare, and education lags behind demand, official development assistance (ODA) from international donors is vital to the province.

In recent times, international donors have provided $281.44 million in ODA to 21 projects in Binh Dinh. To call for more financial support from international donors, the province has completed a list of projects needing ODA from 2015-2020. The list comprises 32 projects with a combined investment capital of $361.82 million, with $334.38 million needing to be raised from international donors and the remainder coming from the provincial budget. All of the projects are in the fields of healthcare, education, transport infrastructure, environment, agriculture, irrigation, and water supply.

Specifically, there are two projects in the healthcare and education sectors, capitalised at $38.5 million, three infrastructure projects with $92.25 million in total, and six projects in the environment field with total capital of $41.15 million. The agriculture and irrigation sectors include 14 projects with $79.82 million in total investment and five projects in water supply with $73.65 million.

Binh Dinh is doing its utmost to develop the local economy, but needs the support of the central government and international donors to make these efforts become   a reality.