Addressing the ceremony, Huynh Phong Tranh, Head of the Government Inspectorate said that Vietnam attaches importance to anti-corruption work and would take drastic measures to uncover and prosecute corrupt behaviour, adding that the awarded projects would help further raise public awareness of anti-corruption work, contributing to pushing back this scourge step by step.

Victoria Kwakwa, WB Country Director in Vietnam said the programme would actively contribute to promoting a long-term fight against corruption which was inherently difficult and complex in Vietnam.

Themed “Strengthening public integrity and enforcement of laws for effective anti-corruption”, the entries mainly focused o­n proposing measures to prevent and combat corruption in the fields of healthcare, education, administration and recruitment.

Total awards worth 9.2 billion VND will be used to cover all costs during the implementation of these projects in Vietnamese localities.

The same day, a workshop o­n anti-corruption in community and legal consultancy, as part of the VACI 2011, opened.

Participants shared experience and knowledge o­n anti-corruption law, heard reports o­n outstanding individuals in anti-corruption work and discussed measures to promote the community-based supervisory work for public services.