Conference calls for more foreign aid in Gia Lai province

Inspecting border area in Gia Lai (Source: VNA)

Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Hoang said Gia Lai has a population of over 1.4 million people with 34 ethnic groups, 44.7 percent of them are minorities.

According to Hoang, the province’s economic growth is estimated at 8 percent this year. The rate of poor households accounts for 13.34 percent of the total. There are 39,217 poor ethnic households, making up 86.5 percent while the rate of near-poor households accounts for 9.83 percent.

From 2007-2017, the province attracted 36 projects worth 10.63 million USD. In the first half of this year, as many as 300,000 USD was disbursed for eight projects, focusing on health care, education and rural development.

The provincial People’s Committee issued Decision No.395/QD-UBND dated August 22, 2018 on a portfolio of projects calling for foreign non-governmental aid for the 2018-2020 period, including 80 projects in need of more than 8 million USD, mostly in dealing with social issues, agro-forestry, rural development, climate change, health care, education, vocational training and orientation.

Hoang wished that international and foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and individuals with underway projects in Gia Lai would continue providing the province with more aid targeting more areas.

He committed all possible support in administrative procedures so that funded projects will be deployed in the shortest time.

Head of the People’s Aid Coordinating Committee (PACCOM) Phan Anh Son said PACCOM will continue working closely with NGOs to make it easier for the province to access their aid.

On the occasion, the provincial authorities signed cooperation agreements with the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation, the Foundation for International Development, the People Resources and Conservation Foundation, the Centre for Supporting Community Development Initiatives with a total commitment of over 2 million USD, focusing on safety for school, watering technology in response to climate change, biodiversity preservation, and fight against dengue fever with community involvement.

In 2019, International SOS plans to launch a project on caring for children at SOS Pleiku children’s village with a total aid of 270,000 USD.