HCMC – The Australian Government has approved an AUD5 million grant to support Vietnam’s development agenda, including enhancing competitiveness, reducing its carbon footprint and improving the livelihoods of people.
This grant represents additional funding to the ongoing Australia – Bank Partnership in Vietnam (ABP), which focuses on a wide range of policy areas designed to support the country’s development agenda.
“The Covid-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on Vietnam’s reform agenda and exacerbate inequalities, which are more pronounced and harder for the ethnic minorities, women and other marginalized groups. Responding to this, Australia’s extended collaboration with the World Bank will continue to support Vietnam’s quick economic recovery and help it achieve its development goals,” said Australia’s Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie.
The ABP will continue its work on gender equality and the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta.
In addition, it will also help address new priorities set out in the country’s recently adopted Socioeconomic Development Strategy and Socioeconomic Development Plan, including the transition to a low carbon economy, social equity and inclusion, and innovation-driven growth.
“The ABP will continue providing high-quality advisory work, enabling Vietnamese policymakers to pursue substantive reforms,” said Carolyn Turk, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam. “These reforms are needed (for Vietnam) to recover from the economic costs of Covid-19 and also to set a solid basis for the pathway to a higher-income status.”
The ABP was established in 2017 with an initial funding amount of AUD25 million. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the ABP responded quickly and provided an additional AUD5 million to support Vietnam to respond to and recover from the pandemic.
The program leverages expertise from Australia and the World Bank Group to support the Government of Vietnam in strengthening its development policies and programs.
