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Finland and the Nordic Development Fund will provide 7.9 million euros ($10 million) to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand to promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, and clean technologies under the aegis of the Energy and Environment Partnership Program for the Mekong region.
A memorandum of understanding was signed by the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hanoi Monday.
The EPP seeks to increase availability of and access to renewable energy (RE) services and renewable energy technology (RET) in rural areas, focusing on rural poor women and ethnic minorities.
It also aims at development of and investment in RE and RET, improving knowledge and tools to support RE projects, mapping out related policies and legislative framework, and promoting access to information and funds for RE and RET development.
It is expected to combat climate change while providing sustainable energy services to those who lack them.
EEP will fund projects by public entities, companies, research institutions, universities, and civil social organizations.
NDF is a development agency set up by the Nordic countries -- Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden – that, in cooperation with other development agencies, grants financing for climate change interventions in developing countries.
