The World Bank (WB) and the State Bank of Vietnam Thursday signed an agreement for a concessional credit of 88 million U.S. dollars to support an information and communication technology (ICT) development project in the country

The Vietnam Information and Communication Technology Development Project will increase the effectiveness, transparency and accountability of government agencies, contributing to better provision of public services and effectively combating corruption. It will also improve the ability of citizens, businesses and the public in general, to participate in the information society.

"The Vietnam ICT Development Project supported by the WB is an important part of the government strategy to build e-government and ICT as well as our 2006-2010 socioeconomic development plan. The project will help promote e-commerce, the competitiveness and the development of Vietnamese businesses," governor of the bank, Le Duc Thuy, said at the signing ceremony here.

The project comprises five sub-projects in the areas of leadership in ICT, modernization of the General Statistics Office, and E-applications for cities of Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.

Source: Xinhua