(VEN) – The European Union (EU) Delegation to Vietnam recently launched the 2013 edition of the EU Blue Book, an annual publication on EU assistance to Vietnam, its policies on development of aid sources, and areas of cooperation with the country in 2012.
The EU remains the world’s biggest official development assistance (ODA) supplier for Vietnam, providing 5.2 billion euro from 2007-2013 including 2.25 billion euro or 43 percent in grant aid, and 2.97 billion euro or 57 percent in loans.
During this time, the EU has disbursed 3.15 billion euro for Vietnam including 1.78 billion euro or 57 percent in grant aid and 1.39 billion euro or 43 percent in loans.
| The EU and its member states are currently the largest grant aid provider, the second largest trade partner and one of the largest foreign investors in Vietnam. |
Despite the global economic crisis, EU countries have committed to provide 743 million euro for Vietnam for this year including 44 percent in grant aid and 56 percent in loans.
The EU’s grant aid for Vietnam has reduced, while its commercial loans have increased in recent years largely because Vietnam became a middle-income country in 2010.
The EU’s loans and grant aid have assisted the Vietnamese Government in economic restructuring and social welfare development, contributing to realizing the goals of sustainable growth, poverty reduction and global economic integration. The EU has pledged to continue its ODA for Vietnam in the near future.
The EU Blue Book 2013 states that 2012 was a prosperous year for the EU and Vietnam. The two parties concluded a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) on June 27, 2012 setting up a comprehensive framework to boost bilateral relations.
Both sides agreed to draw-up a regular political advisory mechanism. The PCA will expand the scope of Vietnam-EU bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade, environment, energy, science and technology, public administration, culture, and tourism.
Last year the EU became the largest foreign market for Vietnamese goods. Vietnam sold US$20.3 billion worth of goods to the EU in 2012, a 22.3 percent increase on 2011. Meanwhile, the EU sold about US$8.8 billion worth of goods to Vietnam, a 13.3 percent increase, which led to a US$11.5 billion trade surplus for Vietnam.
Vietnam and the EU launched negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in 2012, completed three negotiation rounds by May 2013, and will hopefully conclude the FTA by 2014 providing great opportunities for Vietnamese exports to the EU.
After the Vietnam-EU FTA is concluded, Vietnamese goods will increase their presence in the EU helping EU businesses better understand Vietnam’s potential and strengths and seek opportunities to invest in Vietnam, said EU Ambassador to Vietnam Franz Jessen./.
By Chu Huynh
Đăng ký: VietNam News