WB helps Vietnam enhance competitiveness and accelerate green growth

The agreements were signed by SBV Governor Le Minh Hung, WB Vice President for East Asia Pacific region Victoria Kwakwa, and witnessed by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

“Vietnam is keen to strengthen economic competitiveness and achieve a more green and sustainable development path. The WB is pleased to support the achievement of these priorities through the projects that we have signed today”, said Victoria Kwakwa, the World Bank Vice President for East Asia Pacific region.

The signed agreements cover Vietnam’s Third Economic Management and Competitiveness Development Policy Financing, First Climate Change and Green Growth Development Policy Financing, and Additional Financing for Vietnam Urban Water Supply and Wastewater Project.

Vietnam’s Third Economic Management and Competitiveness Development Policy Financing is concluding a series of three operations which reinforced key government steps to bolster financial sector stability, reform the SOE sector and create a better business climate.

These reforms are critical to raise Vietnam’s competitiveness and medium growth potential. The series has served as the central platform for coordinated policy dialogue between the Government of Vietnam and several development partners, and has mobilized over US$1 billion from the WB and other partners, in flexible budget support financing, helping to meet some of the government fiscal needs.

This final operation provides a US$150 million WB loan and US$12 million co-financing grants, provided by the Governments of Switzerland and Canada.

The Climate Change and Green Growth Development Policy Financing of US$90 million is the first of a series of three operations to support climate change and green growth policy actions under the Vietnamese Government’s Support Program to Respond to Climate Change.

Policy actions under this credit will help improve coastal zone resilience through integrated management, protection of water resources and greater water use efficiency, as well as coastal forest development. It also supports policies to improve air quality, energy efficiency and investments in renewable to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These policies will be important for the achievement of Vietnam’s COP21 commitments.

The US$50 million IDA Credit and US$69 million IBRD Loan of Additional Financing for Urban Water Supply and Wastewater Project aims to support provision of more household connections in 10 cities across Vietnam.

It will also improve drainage system and build wastewater collection and treatment system in Di An Town of Binh Duong province to deliver better services to the 380,000 inhabitants of the town, and contribute to the control of water pollution into the surrounding Saigon and Dong Nai Rivers.