Gov't chief asks for tightening management of ODA

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (middle), Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh (right) and Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue (left) at the meeting. Photo: VGP

Participants to the meeting agreed that ODA-sourced projects and programs should focus their ODA on development investment not on regular spending. However, some delegates expressed their concerns over the definition of regular spending and development investment. 

A number of the participants said that spending in development investment relates to infrastructure building (or physical part) while “soft part” refers to projects on competence enhancement, technical assistance especially in healthcare and education which should be regarded as investment costs for development investment.   

Addressing the event, PM Phuc emphasized the role of ODA in socio-economic development, especially in infrastructure development and improvement of the apparatus. 

The PM stressed the importance of both infrastructure and “soft part.”

The Government chief asked for tightening management and effective spending of ODA loans including projects on technical assistance; minimizing unnecessary expenditures especially automobile procurement. 

He also asked for clear criteria on development investment and regular spending in ODA projects. 

The Ministry of Finance was assigned to collect comments from other ministries and agencies to craft a directive of the Government on ODA in the new period./.

By Huong Giang