Speeches Shim
Vietnam’s Payment for Forest Environmental Services (PFES) system, designed with USAID support, engages individuals and communities to sustainably manage and protect their forests by providing compensation for their efforts. USAID’s Vietnam Forests and Deltas project is now supporting Vietnam to improve this policy by helping develop innovative carbon PFES pilots. Under these pilot models, local companies that are large emitters will pay forest owners for the carbon sequestration provided by healthy forests, as healthy forests absorb carbon dioxide.
The USAID Linkages for Small and Medium Enterprises (USAID LinkSME) project aims to help business and trade associations build Vietnamese Small and Medium Enterprises’ (SMEs) awareness of supply chain opportunities. From August 14-16, USAID LinkSME took part in the 11th Vietnam Manufacturing Expo (VME) organized by Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade. VME is Vietnam’s leading exhibition on machinery and technology for manufacturing and supporting industries. It was attended by 11,000 visitors and helped USAID LinkSME build awareness of business associations and technical assistance to help SMEs become more competitive.
USAID is helping Vietnam improve and harmonize its legal framework for wildlife crime by addressing governance weaknesses, supporting trade compliance, and increasing clarity regarding overlapping jurisdictions, contradictory or unclear mandates, and legal loopholes. On August 9, the USAID Saving Species project and the National Assembly’s Science, Technology, and Environment Committee co-organized a conference on the Assessment of Legal Enforcement on the Implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Since 2015, USAID has partnered with the Ministry of Health and two local medical universities to develop the first Bachelor of Occupational Therapy in Vietnam. This support has helped Vietnamese universities develop program curricula, train faculty, organize practical application for students as well as set up post-graduation mentoring and coaching. On August 6, Hai Duong Medical Technical University awarded Vietnam’s first 36 Bachelor Degrees in OT. These 36 graduates will begin working in public and private hospitals this month and elevate rehabilitation services for people with disabilities in Vietnam.
A risk-based management approach helps customs authorities detect illegal trade by identifying potential fraud based on an analysis of past patterns of some products or trading companies. This helps to minimize fraud and expedite customs clearance. Since Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance (MOF) is drafting a first-ever circular that regulates customs risk management, last week the USAID Trade Facilitation Program and the General Department of Vietnam Customs organized four consultative workshops in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to collect ideas and comments that will contribute to this important circular.
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