Can Tho becomes the first city to host World Bank Information Corners
CAN THO - The first two World Bank
Public Information Corners (PICs) in the south of Vietnam
were launched today in Can Tho City, the largest city in the
fertile Mekong Delta. Located at the Can Tho City Library
and the Can Tho University, these corners mark the start of
the World Bank's program to more effectively share knowledge
and provide access to a rich source of information on
various topics of development.
The PICs are user-friendly and easily accessible learning
centers that are open to everybody, including the
public-government policy makers, private sector, NGOs,
donors, students, journalists, and the academia. Users can
easily access a wealth of information through the Internet
and WB publications and special books and documents by other
academic and development institutions.
Ms. Pham Thi Mong Truc, Can Tho Director of Culture and
Information, said at the launch ceremony of the PIC in Can
Tho Library: "We are so happy to be the first in Vietnam to
host World Bank Public Information Centers. This is a great
opportunity for people and agencies in Can Tho to obtain as
much information as possible for their work and study, which
is very important to social and economic development in this
region."
"Information empowers. It help poor people escape poverty
by enabling them to increase productivity and access to
market. It helps poor mothers and fathers earn more money
and hence keep their kids at school," said Klaus Rohland,
Director of the World Bank in Vietnam. "We want to share
what we know globally with the Vietnamese people. We hope
these information corners will connect local communities to
global development knowledge and help them make good choices
for their community's progress."
Starting with around 500 publications and materials, and two
computers with full time internet access at each coner, the
PICs offer free and easy access to the wealth of knowledge
available through publications in Vietnamese, the World
Bank's web sites both in English and Vietnamese, and a
complete set of all World Bank funded project documents in
Vietnam.
Stressing the importance of the quality of information that
local community can use, Rohland said, "The most important
resource of the PICs is the staff at Can Tho Library and
University who will provide guidance and help users make the
most of the information available through the centers. They
have been trained in information skills, which they use to
encourage optimum independent use of the resources."
In addition to major World Bank publications in both English
and Vietnamese such as the World Development Report, World
Development Indicators series, the Vietnam Development
Reports and other sectoral research studies, this is the
first time a full collection of project documents of all
World Bank funded projects in Vietnam are made available
both in hard copies and through the Bank's web site. These
include project appraisal documents and other related
studies such as reports on environmental impact,
resettlement plans, etc...
"PICS also serve as centers for stimulating discussions and
dialogues on development issues," said Rohland. "The PICS,
like the Vietnam Development Information Center in Hanoi,
offer a venue to listen to and discuss with local government
officials and other members of the communities on issues and
concerns most important to them."
Can Tho University Rector Le Quang Minh said, "We expect
that work will be completed to upgrade the University's
Library into a modern learning resources center to serve
lecturers and students in the University. We are happy to
support roundtables, workshops and discussions on
development topics in the PIC."
Two more PICs are expected to be launched soon in Hue, and
additional PICs will be established in other provinces in
Vietnam this fiscal year.
The World Bank - September 06, 2004.
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