Finland will provide 9.7 million EUR (12.5 million USD) for Vietnam
to develop the management information system for its forest sector.
To this effect, an agreement between the two
governments on providing official development assistance (ODA) for the
Development of Management Information System for Forestry Sector project
– Phase 2 (FORMIS II) was signed in Hanoi on May 24.
The signing is part of activities to mark the 40th anniversary of Vietnam-Finland diplomatic ties.
FORMIS II will be implemented nationwide in five years starting from
April 2013 with a total investment of over 10.1 million EUR.
Addressing the signing ceremony, Finnish Ambassador to Vietnam Kimmo
Lahdevirta expressed his hope that the five-component project will
support the sustainable development of Vietnamese forest sector,
minimise the impacts of climate change, and help people in remote areas
gain access to open information sources in the field.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan
spoke highly of the outcomes of FORMIS I (2009-2012), saying that they
are very significant for the country’s forest sector and serve as an
important premise for the Finnish government to continue its aid for the
second phase.
Tuan affirmed that his ministry
will do its utmost to ensure the efficiency of the project at the
highest level, thus promoting the sustainable management of forest
resources and contributing to Vietnam’s poverty reduction and
socio-economic development.-VNA