Speeches Shim
On December 15, USAID/Vietnam Mission Director Ann Marie Yastishock, Vice Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen, and representatives of related MOH agencies, Vietnam Social Security, and the Ministry of Finance participated in the launch of the USAID Local Health System Sustainability (LHSS) project. This four-year, $13.9 million project is a part of USAID’s global initiative in integrated health systems strengthening to help low and middle-income countries transition to sustainable, self-financed health systems as a means to support access to universal health coverage.
Energy demand in Vietnam is increasing by 10 percent annually, making it critical for the country to use modern, clean energy technologies to sustain its impressive economic growth, protect human health and the environment, and provide electricity services to over 20 million households. Recognizing the importance of green growth, the Government of Vietnam has taken notable steps to enable the deployment of rooftop solar (RTS) energy to help meet this need. On December 14, the USAID Vietnam Urban Energy Security project and Vietnam Electricity (EVN) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize a partnership that will support EVN’s efforts to expand RTS energy generation in Vietnam.
SMEs, including those in supporting industries, play an important role in Vietnam’s economic growth. However, due to limited capabilities, lack of market linkages, and disruptions in global supply chains caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, SMEs in supporting industries are struggling to find new customers and to explore new market opportunities. On December 9, the USAID Linkages for Small and Medium Enterprises project and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade’s Center for Supporting Industries Development organized a forum on Linkage and Investment Opportunities for SMEs. U.S. Deputy Principal Officer in Ho Chi Minh City Robert Greenan, USAID/Vietnam Economic Growth and Governance Office Director Gregory Leon, and Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade Deputy Director Nguyen Phuong Dong attended the forum, along with more than 300 representatives from government agencies, business associations, businesses, and the media.
On December 6-7, the USAID e-Government Capacity Building Program and the Office of the Government conducted a consultation workshop for 83 officials responsible for taxation and land registration from different districts in Binh Dinh province on conducting digitized processes on Vietnam’s e-government platform - the National Public Service Portal. During the workshop, participants were asked to discuss and exchange feedback on existing digitized administrative procedures in land management, including challenges currently faced in fulfilling land management requirements and tax payments, and provide considerations for further improvement. The findings will help better understand citizen and business demands, improve administrative requirements and processes related to land management in the National Public Service Portal, and ensure better integration between National and Provincial administrations.
COVID-19 has highlighted the pandemic risks of spillover of zoonotic viruses from wildlife to humans. The major risk in Vietnam, as in China, is the extensive wildlife-human interface interactions in the wild, on farms, and in markets and restaurants, which can be markedly reduced by an enforced ban on commercial trade. Since June 2020, USAID has co-led a Task Force on pandemic prevention with FAO, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and representatives of several wildlife-focused NGOs, UN agencies, and the U.S. and German Embassies.
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