NEW DIRECTION FOR EXTERNAL BORROWING MOBILIZATION AS A DEVELOPMENT FINANCING SOURCE OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

Abstract

The paper firstly provides an overview of the country’s public debt status before looking in more detail on its external borrowings. By reviewing the regional experiences in mobilizing external loans for their development when these neighboring countries reached the LMIC status, the paper argues the key role of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in such countries not as filling the savings gap. Instead, it is to reduce the burden of importing essential capital good and technology during industrialization, given that ODA flows are significant to the size of the economy and consistent over time. The paper concludes with key lessons and recommendations for Vietnam in formulating its new strategy on external borrowings, including using oversea aid to relax the balance of payment constraint; using ODA to finance growth-enhancing projects; directing ODA flows to viable projects to enhance the country’s productive capacity; and developing transparent, consistent and predictable project selection system.