The Australian Government will support an investment budget of AUD 2.5 million for the implementation of the program in the Mekong Delta from 2023 to 2025. The BPP Program partnerships in the Mekong Delta are intended to assist Vietnam and Australia's efforts in piloting new models and technologies for climate change adaptation. The goal is to expand the scope of successful initiatives and provide essential social, gender equality, and development benefits to communities in the Mekong Delta.

Sarah Hooper, Australian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, spoke at the event.

According to Australian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Sarah Hooper, Australia pays special attention to the development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region including Vietnam, towards sustainable goals. Since 2000, the Australian Government has invested 650 million AUD (over 427 million USD) in the Mekong Delta region to improve infrastructure and promote investment attraction, human resources, and innovation including two highlight projects - My Thuan Bridge and Cao Lanh Bridge. In August 2023, the Australian Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, announced a support package of 94.5 million AUD to address climate change adaptation in the Mekong Delta. This support package includes the “Mekong - Australia Partnership” Program which focuses on water security, energy, and climate change.

Australian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Sarah Hooper said that the program, to be implemented from 2023 to 2025, aims to promote women’s startups in agriculture adaptive to climate change, which will help women to develop production and increase incomes effectively.

The Australian official said that the Australian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City has been implementing direct assistance programs (DAP) in Can Tho in the fields of rural clean water, rural bridge construction, and scholarships for students and teachers. It also helps the city with socio-economic development, gradually narrowing the gap between rural and urban areas.

Mr. Tran Viet Truong, Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee, delivered a speech at the ceremony.

Mr. Tran Viet Truong, the Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee, stated that Vietnam and Australia established diplomatic relations on February 26, 1973. Later in 2009, they established a Comprehensive Partnership, which was upgraded to a Strategic Partnership in 2018. The diplomatic relations between the two countries have grown stronger with an increasing level of trust. This provides a solid foundation for Can Tho City and the Mekong Delta region to promote cooperation programs with Australia.

Can Tho aims to enhance the quality of human resources in production, business, and social life through the application of science and technology. This includes improving efficiency in farming and processing agricultural products. As a result, Can Tho hopes Australian businesses will invest in priority areas of the city such as high-tech agriculture adapting to climate change, preserving and processing agricultural and aquatic products, and infrastructure development for smart urban development, Chairman Tran Viet Truong said.

Regarding the “Business Partnership Platform: Climate Change Adaptation" program. He said that the program's objective is to promote climate adaptation activities within women-led agribusiness models, in order to provide better income opportunities and other benefits to women in the region. This initiative will assist women's start-up models in the Mekong Delta to have better conditions to develop production, while also adapting to climate change in the most effective way possible. The program's development will foster friendly relationships between Mekong Delta provinces, Vietnam, and Australian partners.

On the same day, the Australian Consulate General coordinated with Can Tho City to organize a tree-planting event at Song Hau Park in Can Tho City to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Australia

Australian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Sarah Hooper and Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee Tran Viet Truong take part in a tree-planting event to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Australia in Can Tho City.