Rural areas in the central region will benefit from a new development fund of US$168.2 million for the 2008-2013 period.

At the project launch in Hanoi on May 29, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced they will lend US$90 million while the French Development Agency (AFD) confirmed they will lend US$52 million and donate US$1.3 million.

Thirteen provinces, including Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Kon Tum, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan, will benefit from the project.

The fund will be used to improve these provinces’ education, health care, safe water and job opportunities and upgrade local infrastructure.