by Trinh Anh Duc
31-10-2001
Vietnam's average income living standard improved
October official statistic figures show edthat the average income representing living standard of the residents in town and rural areas in Vietnam had been improved as a result of development production and stable prices. The average income of a worker in the state management sector in 2001 reached VND889,600 per month, an increase of 20.8 percent on the 2000 figure. Workers at the central level reached VND1,156,400 per capita, an increase of 18.1 percent on the 2000 figure. But local level workers earned VND698,400 per capita, an increase of 24.2 percent. Five sectors with an average income rate of over VND1 million per capita per month were primary resources, at VND1,565,400; electricity and water VND1,576,000; transportation VND1,478,200; banking VND1,413,100 and investment advisory, with VND1,496,100.
2001 GDP average per capita reaches US$405
According to Vietnam's Statistics General Department, GDP of 2001 estimated to reach VND477,993 billion an increase of 7.1 percent compared with 2000. If the reached figure were divided by 78,738,900 population, the average per capita of GDP is VND6,070,000 equaling to about US$405 at the current exchange rate.
ADB funds tea and fruit project
The Vietnam State Bank signed in Hanoi on October 1 with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) a US $40.2 million loan agreement for tea and fruit growing and processing in Vietnam. The loan has a 32-year term, including an eight-year grace period. It will have an annual interest rate of one per cent in the grace period and 1.5% in the remaining period. Addressing the signing ceremony, State Bank Governor Le Duc Thuy said the project was of prime importance to Vietnam's rural development efforts. This tea and fruit project is expected to benefit 67,400 farmers, 300 private commercial nurseries, and 830 small and medium-sized private tea bud and fruit processing businesses. It was expected that the project would generate about 71,600 jobs a year. The project was designed to produce 20,000 tonnes of tea and 325,000 tonnes of fruit valued at US $25 million and US $100 million, respectively, a year. This project brought US $2 billion in ADB preferential aid to Vietnam since the bank resumed credit loans to the country in 1993, Mr Thuy said. Mr Thuy and ADB residential representative John Samy were the signatories of the project.
Japan funds irrigation project
The government of Japan granted US $95,000 in non-refundable aid to improve the irrigation system in Phu Cuong commune, Soc Son suburban district of Hanoi. Representatives of the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam presented equipment for a project to build Huong Gia irrigation pumping station. When the construction is completed, Phu Cuong commune will have a new irrigation system, which will help increase rice productivity from 5-7 tonnes per hectare to 13 tonnes per hectare.
Second Bridge Across Da River to be Built
Vietnam's Prime Minister approved the building of a second bridge spanning the Da river at Km 38 of provincial road 113 in Bac Yen district of northern mountainous Son La province. The 551.3-m long bridge, called Ta Khoa, has two lanes for automobiles and 300-500 m-long ramps at both ends of the bridge. Ta Khoa bridge is 50 m high from the river's water surface and its longest reinforced concrete span is 130 m. The bridge's design was completed in two months, and its construction would be carried out over a period of 16 to 17 months at a total cost of between VND 95 and 107 billion (about USD 6.3-7.1 million). Once completed, Ta Khoa bridge will facilitate traffic from Son La township to districts and provinces in the northeastern region. It will also shorten the travel distance from Son La to Phu Tho, Yen Bai, Son Tay and Ha Noi by 100 km. Work on the construction of the bridge started in November. The first bridge across the Da river, the Hoa Binh bridge, is 506 m long.
Industrial Park approved
Binh Duong Province authorities approved the zoning masterplan for My Phuoc Industrial Park in the district of Ben Cat. The 500 hectares Industrial Park, developed by Binh Duong Trading Investment and Development Co., will be home to projects involved in processing food and agricultural products, and producing construction materials.
Solar power project in remote areas to be carried out
The Committee of Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas, in co-ordination with the FORTUM group of Finland, held a seminar on project 'Application of Solar Power in Mountainous Areas' in Hanoi on October 10. Over 50 officials and scientists of ministries, sectors and organisations from the central and localities participated in the seminar to contribute to deploying the project.