Australia will hike its ODA lending to Vietnam by AU$12.50 million ($12.57 million) to AU$150.4 million (VND3.2 trillion or $151.24 million) in the 2012-2013 fiscal year, according to the Australian Embassy in Hanoi.
In 2012-2013, the Australian Government will provide an estimated $AU150.4 million (VND 3.2 trillion) in official development assistance to Vietnam. This means Vietnam will be Australia’s fifth largest bilateral recipient of development assistance.
This is part of the Government’s overall commitment to increase the size of the Australian aid program to $5.2 billion from $4.8 billion in 2011-12, equivalent to 0.35 per cent of Australia’s Gross National Income.
Australia’s aid program in Vietnam is focused on five main areas including human resource development, infrastructure, reducing the negative impacts of climate change, improving public health by increasing access to safe water and sanitation, and economic reform.
In 2012-2013, Australia will continue to assist Vietnam to improve access to essential infrastructure services such as water supply and sanitation as well as transport linkages that connect poor areas to key transport and economic corridors.
Australia’s support will include completion of the design of the Cao Lanh Bridge which will deliver significant economic and social benefits by improving transport access for residents in the densely populated central Mekong Delta region of Vietnam.
Australia will also provide 245 Australian Development Scholarships to Vietnam in 2013. These scholarships are designed to develop the skills of the Vietnamese people so they can contribute to development in Vietnam across government agencies, universities, business and community organizations.
Additional scholarships will be provided through other government programs.
