Victoria Kwakwa awarded Friendship Order

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, on July 25, presented the Friendship Order to Victoria Kwakwa, Regional Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific of the World Bank (WB), who was the former WB Country Director in Vietnam.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) presents the Friendship Order to Regional Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific of the World Bank, Victoria Kwakwa (Photo: VGP)

The WB official was honoured in recognition of her contributions to accelerating the bank’s support and cooperation during Vietnam’s socio-economic development.

Addressing the awards ceremony, Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Le Minh Hung said Kwakwa assumed the post of WB Country Director in Vietnam in April 2009. In her role, she helped Vietnam gain access to the WB’s policy consultations, as well as capital and technical assistance to deal with difficulties and challenges facing the country.

Thanks to the WB’s support, the SBV has increased its capacity and completed all institutions and legal frameworks on banking activities in accordance with international practice, Hung stressed.

Kwakwa has played an important role in elevating cooperation between Vietnam and the WB to a partnership, he said.

At the ceremony, Hung and Kwakwa signed agreements on three programmes and projects worth a combined US$ 370 million, covering the improvement of economic competitiveness, environmental protection and sustainable development.

Such projects are expected to help Vietnam handle challenges in the context of climate change developing complicatedly.

Speaking at the ceremony, Kwakwa said the WB always pays heed to major economic reforms, comprehensive infrastructure development and climate change response in order to step up poverty reduction and sustainable development.

The bank highly appreciates Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements, she said, expressing her belief that the signed programmes and projects will be a success and loans from the WB will be used effectively.

On the occasion, Hung presented a certificate of merit to the WB official for her contributions to the development of the Vietnamese banking sector.

(Source: NDO)