The government of Germany has provided a non-refundable aid worth EUR8 million for a project on forest ecosystem protection and management in Vietnam. The German Reconstruction Bank (KfW) will grant the amount of money after signing an agreement to with Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) on Nov 18. The seven-year KfW10 project will be implemented in the central and Central Highlands provinces of Quang Nam, Kon Tum and Gia Lai at a total cost of EUR11.29 million. MARD Deputy Minister Ha Cong Tuan said the project will protect the natural resources and biodiversity of 28,110 hectares of forests in the three provinces, along with improving the incomes for local households. Since 1995, the German government, through the KfW, has provided more than EUR120 million for 14 projects on afforestation and the protection and management of natural resources in Vietnam, with 11 projects implemented by MARD. Vietnam is KfW’s third-largest strategic partner in Asia, behind China and India. KfW’s total investment capital in Vietnam reached EUR1.2 billion so far. (Thoi Bao Kinh Te Viet Nam – Vietnam Economic Times Nov 19 p3)
