The Vietnam Innovation Day 2008 – Food Safety has awarded more than USD 300,000 to 22 winning projects. The maximum amount of each grant is US$15,000 to support the implementation of the proposed project aiming at improving food safety.
“Food Safety has been attached great importance in state management and policies on public health,” said Mr. Cao Minh Quang, Vice Minister of Health, at the award ceremony in Hanoi on July 17, 2008. “Food Safety would be further improved thanks to stronger community participation, community support and initiatives.”
“Food related issues have affected the economy both at the household level and at the sectoral level,” said Mr. Alain Barbu, Acting Country Director of the World Bank in Vietnam. “Therefore, the organizers have all been glad to see that the idea of the Vietnam Innovation Day - a "mini marketplace" for innovative ideas that address local development challenges – have received wide public responses.”
“Each of the proposal reflect the creativity of the people at the grassroots level, as well as the community’s responsibility toward helping the government deal with a national issue.,” Mr. Barbu added.
Members of the jury panels of the Vietnam Innovation Day 2008 were representatives of various government agencies, enterprises, hospitals, social organizations, media and donor agencies. The jury panels have evaluated all proposals based on 5 criteria – contribution to improving food safety, creativity, sustainability and community ownership.
The winning initiatives this year include many new ideas on improving food safety, designing and building hygienic sandwich selling-carts, preserving traditional foods, building an effective connection between food manufacturers and consumers. There are also many innovative proposals on communication and awareness raising for women, young people, children, ethnic minority communities on food safety-related issues
The Vietnam Innovation Day 2008 was co-organised by the Vietnam Food Administration, Tuoi Tre Ho Chi Minh City Newspaper and the World Bank. More than 230 proposals were received. The jurors have worked hard to select 36 of the best proposals to attend the final round of the Vietnam Innovation Day
Its co-sponsors are Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), the Embassy of Canada, the Royal Embassy of Denmark, New Zealand International Aid and Development Agency (NZAid), Viettel Company, the US Embassy and Duc Viet Food Company.
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