High on the agenda will be preparations for the 2010-2020 socio-economic development strategy and the implementation of WTO commitments and approaches to address potential social impacts, governance and institutional reform, including also public administrative reform, and government reorganisation. Donors will look at progress in the implmentation of the Government’s anti-corruption initiatives, current directions and challenges in legal and judicial reform.

Vietnam Business Forum (VBF) – a sideline activity of the CG meeting for domestic and foreign businesses, will be held on December 4.

At a press briefing on November 29, Ajay Chhibber, World Bank (WB) Country Director in Vietnam, and Martin Rama, WB Chief Economist, answered questions relating to the upcoming meeting.

Regarding the slow disbursement of ODA-funded projects compared with donors’ commitment, Mr Chhibber said this is quite normal as commitment is made for a year while projects often last for several years, and disbursement relies on the progress of the project. The matter now is how to speed up the implementation of projects so that more money will be disbursed, said Mr Chhibber.

The WB country director added that financial commitments in the coming year will focus more on health, social affairs and infrastructure development or in fields less attractive to investors.

At the upcoming CG meeting, WB said that donors are expected to commit more aid to help Vietnam’s economy grow strongly and sustainably.