Vietnam aid pledge likely to remain firm
HANOI - Foreign donors are likely to
pledge substantial amounts of project aid to Vietnam when they
attend a World Bank Consultative Group meeting in Hanoi this
December, a donor official said on Tuesday.
Andrew Steer, director of the World Bank in Vietnam and
chairman of the Consultative Group, said in an interview the
meeting would focus on important new data about poverty in
Vietnam and on policies required to return the country to fast
growth.
He said no figure for expected pledges had been floated, but
that this year's commitments would not differ greatly from the
$2.2-2.7 billion range agreed at last year's gathering.
Some analysts have suggested donors should link aid to faster
progress on the reform of Vietnam's state sector, banking
system and trade regime.
However, Steer said the various donors under the Consultative
Group had not yet indicated whether they would cut back on
commitments.
Reuters - October 26, 1999.
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