Australian Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner Tony Burchill has highlighted the important role of mining to Vietnam and said that Australia can help the country to further develop its mining sector.
Burchill said at a seminar held in Hanoi on May 11 on the occasion of the visit to Vietnam to explore business opportunities by a group of 10 Australian companies, including major mining contractors, project finance, as well as equipment, technology and mining services providers.
As mining is a key sector for Vietnam, the visit is expected to “bring significant trade and industry development benefits to Vietnam as well as offering attractive commercial opportunities for Australian businesses,” Burchill said.
At the seminar which was supported by the Vietnam National Coal and Minerals Industries Group (Vinacomin) and sponsored by ANZ Vietnam, the Australian companies introduced advanced technologies in mining and infrastructure construction.
Vietnamese businesses praised Australia’s experiences and new technology, particularly environmentally - friendly ones.
Many meetings between the two countries’ companies also took place on the sidelines of the seminar.
The Australian companies made field trips to mine sites and met with relevant Vietnamese companies in the coal-rich province of Quang Ninh and the northwestern province of Son La.
Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Allaster Cox said that visit to Vietnam by Australian mining companies would help strengthen bilateral relations between Australia and Vietnam.
Australia is a world leader in all aspects of mining. According to the Australian Trade Commission, the country has some 2,500 companies involved in the mining sector employing 320,000 workers, and approximately 60 per cent of the world’s mines use software that was developed in Australia./.