In a press release issued on May 20, the Hanoi-based Australian Embassy said Australia’s commitment to Vietnam underscores a long-running contribution to Vietnam’s development and progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Australian aid will assist Vietnam’s objectives to improve human resources and infrastructure and support institutional development. 

Scholarships are a high priority of the programme to realise Australia’s plan to provide 225 post-graduate scholarships per year to Vietnamese students. The Australian government is likely to provide more than 50 additional scholarships under other programmes, bringing the total to more than 275. 

Through ongoing infrastructure initiatives, Australia will donate AUD32.6 million to support major transport projects and regional road building to connect poor rural areas to key regional transport and economic corridors. 

Australia’s support will focus on the development of the Central Mekong Delta Connectivity Project, in particular the design of Cao Lanh Bridge.

On institutional reform, the aid budget will fund phase 2 of the Beyond WTO, program to assist Vietnam’s effective integration into the world’s economy. 

Australia will continue working with the Vietnamese government to improve the living conditions of the poor through increased access to clean water and sanitation facilities in rural areas. 

During 2010-2011 under the Delivering Better Health initiative, Australia will provide funding to improve Vietnam’s health system to ensure quality and cost effective care is accessible to all. 

Working with the government of Vietnam and local communities, Australia is helping communities prepare for future disasters, improving their capacity to restore and get on with their lives in the wake of natural disasters. 

Funds will also be used to help Vietnam manage cross-border and regional threats such as HIV/AIDS, human and drug trafficking and transnational crime, and address corruption and gender issues.