(VNA) - Viet Nam will call for more ODA capital for urban development from now to 2010, said Vice Minister of Construction Tong Van Nga.

Addressing a conference on ODA attraction and its use in construction held in Ha Noi on May 11, Nga said that priority will be given to water supply and drainage, transport, environment and housing in order to meet the rapid development of urban areas.

According to the Ministry of Construction, almost all provinces and cities have so far had urban development projects, which drew from ODA capital. Foreign banks such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank (WB) and the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) have so far lent Viet Nam about 40 percent of the total capital needed for urban infrastructure development projects.

At present, the Ministry of Construction is directing the execution of urban infrastructure projects in 18 cities and towns and managing the use of ODA for urban infrastructure development in 45 other cities and towns.

Reports at the conference said the demand for urban development in Viet Nam is high and increasing, especially in small and medium sized urban centres. About 500 urban areas are calling for investment for development.