In the 2002-2006 period, the EC has provided 162 million Euros in non refundable aid for Vietnam with a focus on human resource development and the country’s international economic integration process. Apart from this, the EC has launched 16 bilateral initiatives in Vietnam with a total value of 160 million Euros.
In recent years, the EC has helped Vietnam boost sustainable economic development, improve living standards for the poor, and restructure the national economy towards a market economy and protect the environment.
Mr Cornaro said the EC has provided 28 million Euros for Vietnam’s primary education and some other programmes run by the Ministry of Education and Training.
The EC has also helped Vietnam improve healthcare services for the poor living in the northern mountainous and central highlands regions with a total sum of more than 11.6 million Euros, as part of its annual grant to Vietnam worth 40 million Euros.
VOV: What is your assessment of the results Vietnam have obtained in its poverty reduction process?
Mr Markus Cornaro: Vietnam has been successful in implementing millennium development goals (MDGs) but there are some pending issues related to investment in human resource development to reduce and eradicate poverty. Some areas in the northern mountainous and central regions still see a high number of poor households. However, I fully agree with the Vietnamese Government’s plan target for a 50 reducing the number of poor households by 50 percent by 2010 and other efforts to help poor people in urban areas escape poverty by themselves with partial support from the State and local community without discrimination between local poor people and poor immigrants.
VOV: One of Vietnam’s biggest objectives is to ensure the sustainable results of poverty reduction and hunger elimination. However, Vietnam has to cope with a lot of natural calamities and other challenges when joining the WTO. Do you have any opinion?
Mr Markus Corano: These are two different issues. To reduce poverty and hunger, it is important to universalise education, and improve medical services. I think people seem to exaggerate risks which they think Vietnam will face when joining the WTO as in exporting agricultural and processed products. In my opinion, Vietnam has more advantages than risks. In the field of agriculture, Vietnam has already signed bilateral agreements with ASEAN countries and China, so Vietnam will not be greatly affected when joining the WTO. I think that it is time for Vietnam to join the WTO and global financial institutions.
VOV: Can Vietnam reduce the number of poor households by 50 percent in the next five year?
Mr Markus Corano: I think that with its own efforts and assistance from international donors, Vietnam can achieve the target. By 2010, Vietnam can reduce its poverty rate from 20 percent to 10 percent. First, Vietnam should adapt itself to the global economic system flexibly. Second, Vietnam should take advantage of domestic resources. Third, it is necessary to improve the quality of education and training.
VOV: Vietnam is doing its best to create transparency in the field of public finance. Do you think that this will facilitate the implementation of EU-funded projects?
Mr Markus Corano: I think transparency in public finance will help Vietnam achieve greater progress in fulfilling the next goals.
VOV: Thank you very much.
