Hanoi (VNA) – The Republic of Korea (RoK) will provide Vietnam with 3 million USD in non refundable aid for a technical assistance project on the establishment of an e-procurement pilot system.

A record of discussion on the technical assistance was signed in Hanoi on June 20 between the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

The project, which will be carried out through 2009, is part of the RoK government’s commitment under Memorandum of Understanding on electronic procurement cooperation signed between the two governments in November 2004.

With the RoK assistance, the Ministry of Planning and Investment will build and test the system in the Electricity of Vietnam Group, the Vietnam Telecoms and Post Group and the Hanoi People’s Committee.

Head of the MPI’s External Relations Department Ho Quang Minh said that the project will help increase the publicity and transparency of procurement activities and contribute to fighting corruption in this area.-Enditem