Gov’t discusses offshore fishing vessel building aid use

The decision was made during a meeting of Government standing members in Ha Noi on July 3 that looked into the use of the VND 16 trillion (US$761.9 million) package designed to support the building of offshore fishing vessels and those for coast guard and fisheries surveillance forces.

The remaining VND 11.5 trillion (US$547.61 million) will be reserved for constructing 32 ships of all kinds for coast guard and fisheries surveillance forces, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said.

He said the financial aid is to help raise the law enforcement capacity of authorised forces, and ensure fishermen’s safe and long stay in Viet Nam ’s waters, thus increasing their fishing harvest.

The support will also help safeguard the country’s sea and island sovereignty, protect fishermen, and better perform search and rescue duties, as well as other important missions, he added.

PM Dung pledged all possible sources to be gathered to further improve the relevant forces’ capacity and assist fishermen.

Also at the meeting, it was agreed that VND 426 billion (US$20.28 million) will be advanced for the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to repair seriously deteriorated reservoirs across the country.

The ministry was assigned to work with provincial authorities to ensure the absolute safety of reservoirs and dams in the approaching flooding season.

Around 1,150 reservoirs nationwide are in dire need of repair. Up to 320 of them are unable to withstand floods, reports said.-VNA