"Vietnam Today" is the theme of a talk on Vietnam's economic development held by the German Institute of Economic Research (DIW) and Asian Development Bank in Berlin on March 17.

The talk was presided over by Alexander Fischer, DIW vice president and managing director and Antonia Andrea Monari, ADB general director in Europe with Ayumi Konishi, ADB director in Vietnam as the main speaker. Also at the talks were experts and scholars from German institutes, universities, businesses and representatives from the Vietnamese Embassy.

Mr Konishi briefed attendees on the overall economic situation in Vietnam, emphasising its potential and development orientations in the 2006-2010 period with a vision for 2020, the impact of the global economic crisis on Vietnam and lessons drawn from it, and opportunities and challenges in the country's economic development in the next few years, as well as for foreign investors in Vietnam.

Mr Konishi said it is estimated that the country's population will reach 100 million in 2020, of which 60 percent being working age, a rate that will hold steady for the next 30 years, giving Vietnam great potential for economic development. However, a shortage of qualified human resources, poor infrastructure, and transport, the low efficiency of intermediate financial activities and objective difficulties in becoming an middle income nation will be challenges for the country in the coming years.

Mr Konishi also provided information about ADB activities in Vietnam and Europe as well as relations between ADB and German organisations in Vietnam and around the world.

ADB is one of Vietnam's biggest donors. At the Consultative Group Meeting in Vietnam late 2009, ADB committed to providing US$2 billion to Vietnam.