The French Agency for Development (AFD) has pledged 20 million EUR (25.4
million USD) in loan for the fourth tranche of the Support Programme to
Respond to Climate Change (SP-RCC) in Vietnam.
A
credit agreement to this effect was signed by Deputy Minister of Finance
Truong Chi Trung, French Ambassador to Vietnam Jean-Noel Poirier, and
AFD Director Remi Genevey in Hanoi on September 30.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Deputy Minister Trung said the
budgetary support brought the total AFD contribution to SP-RCC programme
up to 80 million EUR.
This demonstrates the joint
efforts between the Vietnamese and French Governments and the agency to
realise the national targets on climate change and green growth, he
said.
Vietnam hopes that the French Government and
the AFD will provide more financial and institutional support for the
country to carry out adaptive measures in the field, he noted.
Ambassador Jean-Noel Poirier underlined climate change adaptation as
one of the top priorities in cooperation between France and
international partners, including Vietnam.
He hailed
Vietnam’s effective operation in the field since the project was
launched in 2009 and pledged the French Government will further support
the country’s efforts.
In 2006-2013, AFD provided
382 million EUR (484.7 million USD) for Vietnam through 14 development
projects, focusing on climate change response and adaptation.
Since 1994, the cumulated official development assistance (ODA) the
agency has granted to Vietnam figured up to 1.5 billion EUR (1.9 billion
USD), with 70 projects.-VNA