The German Reconstruction Bank (KFW) has pledged EUR13 million in non-refundable aid and preferential loans for two Vietnam forest development projects in several provinces.
All necessary documents to this effect were signed by Christoph Sigrit, Director of KFW for the Asia-Pacific; Cristian Richter, Director of the KFW Representative Office in Hanoi and Hua Duc Nhi, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in Hanoi on December 11.
Northern Hoa Binh and Son La provinces get a project on forest development with a total value of EUR13.8 million, including EUR2.1 million in non-refundable aid and EUR7.9 million in preferential loans from KFW, and EUR3.8 million contributed by the government of Vietnam.
Meanwhile Bac Giang, Lang Son and Quang Ninh provinces get a EUR4 million project on forest restoration and sustainable management, including EUR3 million in non-refundable aid.
The projects will focus on planting new trees to restore natural forests and conserve biodiversity in the targeted provinces, building and completing technical guidance for sustainable forest management, in addition to training forest managers.
On the other hand, the projects aim to raise the provinces’ forest coverage, ensure sustainable management of the natural resources, generate stable jobs and income for locals, establish a market information network to increase forest product processing services, and promote socio-economic development.
The German-supported projects will help restore forests and improve the biological environment in Vietnam, Nhi said, adding that they will markedly contribute to Vietnam’s forest planting plan and improved local farmers’ living conditions.
In the framework of cooperation between the Vietnamese and German governments dating back to 1990, the German Reconstruction Bank has funded 6 projects with total investment of EUR40 million in order to help northern and central provinces plant and tend nearly 100,000 ha of forest.
Vietnam Economic Times
Vietnamese
