The Australian government will provide an estimated AUD150.4 million ($152.1 million) in official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam in 2012-2013, according to a media release by the Australian embassy. With the funding, Vietnam will be Australia’s fifth largest bilateral recipient of development assistance, the media release noted. Vietnam will benefit from additional funding to reduce the negative impact of climate change as part of a new East Asia initiative. The 2012-2013 Budget commits AUD208.6 million over four years to countries in East Asia to increase incomes, and boost health and education services for the poor, and minimize the negative impact of climate change in Vietnam. Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Allaster Cox said that Australia is committed to assisting Vietnam to attack poverty and achieve sustainable development, as demonstrated by the AUD12.5 million increase in funding in 2012-2013. Australian aid program in Vietnam, which is managed by the Australian Agency for International Development (Ausaid), is focused on five main areas of developing the human resource, upgrading infrastructure, reducing the negative impact of climate change, improving public health by accessing to safe water and sanitation, and reforming the economy. 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. The Australian Government also released a new Comprehensive Aid Policy Framework on May 8, 2012, which articulates a four-year vision for Australian aid that sets out how much Australia will deliver, where and why by 2015-2016. This will enable the Australian Government to work together with Vietnam to better plan and implement aid investment more effectively over the next four years, delivering better results for Vietnamese people. Earlier, the Australian government pledged AUD138 million in ODA for Vietnam in 2011-2012. Australia’s aid program aims to assist Vietnam to achieve its objectives in strengthening human resource development, economic integration and improving infrastructure, and environmental sustainability. (vovnews.vn May 9, Tuoi Tre – Youth May 10 p2, Thoi Bao Ngan Hang – Banking Times May 10 p1)
