*EPF316 04/30/2003
Text: U.S. Trade and Development Agency Supports Vietnamese Utility
(U.S. Trade and Development Agency press release April 29) (380)

Following is the text of a U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) April 29 press release concerning a $320,000 grant from the agency to Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) aimed at helping the foreign utility develop its information and communications technology:

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U.S. TDA: Current Press Release

USTDA SIGNS GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS GRANT WITH EVN
For Immediate Release

HANOI, VIETNAM - (April 29, 2003) Earlier today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) awarded a $320,000 grant to Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) to assist in the utility's development of an Automated Mapping, Facilities Management and Geographic Information Systems (AM/FM/GIS) project. The Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, Mr. Robert Porter, signed the grant agreement on behalf of the U.S. Government and USTDA. Mr. Dao Van Hung, President and Chief Executive Officer, signed on behalf of EVN.

The USTDA grant will fund project preparation work to define the technical and financial requirements for implementing EVN's proposed AM/FM/GIS project. This mapping system will aid in the management and maintenance of EVN's 110kV, 220kV, and 500kV transmission line grids, as well as help to improve asset inspection procedures, network design, management of repair work and customer care.

This AM/FM/GIS grant represents the third cooperative effort between USTDA and EVN in the field of information and communications technology. USTDA previously provided grants to EVN for the development of a Financial and Materials Management Information Systems project and a Customer Care Information Systems project. ince 1997, USTDA has approved over $9 million in assistance for projects in Vietnam in the environmental, transportation, information technology, energy and telecommunications sectors.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency advances economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income countries. The agency funds various forms of technical assistance workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure foreign assistance funds to support sound investment policy and decision-making in host countries creates an enabling environment for trade, investment and sustainable economic development. In carrying out its mission, USTDA gives emphasis to economic sectors that may benefit from U.S. exports of goods and services.

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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