Hanoi, May 30, 2003 - Today, the World Bank in Vietnam launched its newly revamped Website, in both English and Vietnamese, aiming to improve knowledge sharing about Vietnam.

"Traditionally, the focus of the development debate has been on financial transfers to developing countries. But money alone will not do the trick," said Mr. Klaus Rohland, Director of the World Bank in Vietnam. "Knowledge and the digital revolution are really central to development in the years to come. As a result, the World Bank provides not only financing but also knowledge and lessons learned about the challenges of development."

The World Bank Vietnam's new website aims to promote the use of and access to knowledge in order to improve the effectiveness of development programs in Vietnam. The information available in the Website relates mainly to strategies, projects and activities that form the cornerstone of the Bank's work in Vietnam.

The new Website offers a full collection of World Bank studies on Vietnam since the World Bank resumed activities in Vietnam in 1994, and a set of updated data and statistics on Vietnam's social and economic development. In addition, the site provides links to development publications and studies in the East Asia and Pacific region, with an aim to stimulate development thinking as well as provide access to the latest knowledge and information on development available worldwide.

The World Bank is also supporting Vietnam through its $2.73 billion portfolio of 26 development credits to help fight poverty in Vietnam through finance for agriculture, infrastructure, health programs, schools, and other essential needs. Information about these projects are made available through the new Website. The database provides all documents and information about each project such as project appraisal documents, environmental and resettlements assessments, contracts, etc...

The new Website offers links to other partners that put knowledge for development on top of their agenda. In particular, the site promote access to the Vietnam Development Information Center (VDIC) which is a knowledge center for development. It gives users access to a range of relevant development information through publications, internet access, a library and a distance learning center. You can visit the World Bank's new Website by typing www.worldbank.org.vn in your browser.

"I hope you will find our new Website useful. We would appreciate any feedback on the site and suggestions for improvement to help us make knowledge for development work in practice," Rohland stressed.

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For the Vietnamese translation of this press release, please contact Hoang Thanh Ha at e-mail hha@worlbank.org, tel (4) 9346600 fax (4) 9346597 or mobile phone 0903430193.