Australia plans to expand its aid for Vietnam to AUD 137.9 million in the 2011-2012 fiscal year, from AUD 131.9 million in 2009-2010 and AUD 127.4 million in 2010-2011.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), in recent years, Vietnam has always been one of the countries receiving the largest amount of aid from Australia.
The increased aid for Vietnamwas part of the Australian Government’s decision to raise its aid budget for Asian countries in the 2011-2012 fiscal year, in order to recognise the region’s increasing position in the global economy.
Australia highly valued Vietnam’s economic growth rate and its achievements in reducing poverty rate, as evidenced by 12.4% in 2009 from 58% in 1993.
Australia’s aid strategy for Vietnam in 2010-2015 will focus on three major areas: developing human resources, promoting economic integration, especially infrastructure and policy reform and achieving sustainable development in terms of clean water, sanitation, climate change and agricultural researches.
In education, Australia will grant 245 graduate scholarships and 80 post-graduate scholarships to help Vietnam increase the quality of education.
In economics, Australia will boost investment in transport infrastructure in rural areas to facilitate farmers’ regional connectivity, accelerate the tempo of transport projects in the South to promote trade relations with other regional countries, as well as assisting Vietnam in reforming institutions and other related policies.
Besides, Australia committed to helping people in the Mekong Delta cope with the adverse impacts of climate change, develop sustainable livelihoods, and improve access to clean water and sanitation.