Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne (centre); Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie (left); Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (3rd from the right) and representatives of 4 partner groups. (Photo: The Australian Embassy in Vietnam)
Announced during the official visit to Vietnam of Australia’s Foreign Minister, Marise Payne, the package includes 2.5 million AUD for four business partnerships that will leverage a further 9.2 million AUD in private sector investment.
These four unique partnerships, established under Australia’s successful Business Partnerships Platform, will support Vietnam’s green economic recovery through commercial initiatives in the energy and climate sectors.
The COVID-19 Green Economic Recovery Package also includes 4 million AUD through Australia’s Mekong Australia Partnership to support low emissions and sustainable rice in the Mekong Delta region, also known as Vietnam’s Rice Bowl.
At COP26 in Glasgow last week, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison released a joint statement on practical climate action, in alignment with both countries’ new commitments to move to net zero emissions by 2050. Australia also announced it would further increase its climate financing commitment over the next five years to 2 billion AUD, including for Vietnam.
Australia’s new Green Economic Recovery Package complements these commitments, supporting Vietnam to tackle the challenges of climate change and energy transition, while creating tangible economic benefits and supporting business growth.
The four Business Partnerships Platform partnerships being awarded, include:
“Dual use of solar energy for agriculture and aquaculture in Vietnam” – a partnership between DFAT, Climate Sense, the Asia Foundation, Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP), GreenID and Vu Phong – represented by Ms Tran Lan Phuong, Deputy Director General of VBSP. This partnership will scale up investment in dual use agri-photovoltaic systems in the Mekong Delta.
“Bioenergy on commercial farms in Vietnam” – a partnership between DFAT, SNV, E-Green, Nexus for Development and HD Bank – represented by Mr Pham Duc Tho, Director of E-Green. This partnership will scale up sustainable electricity generation at large and medium-sized livestock farms using state-of-the-art equipment.
“Advanced vertical farming for climate, lives and landscapes in Vietnam” – a partnership between DFAT, Orlar, Raise Partners and SNV – represented by Ms Le Cassandra from Orlar Vietnam. This partnership will deploy innovative vertical farming technology to increase sustainable food production in the Mekong Delta.
“Sustainable cricket farming in Vietnam” – a partnership between DFAT, Cricket One, and Entomo Ventures – represented by Ms Tu Thu Hien from Cricket One. This partnership is scaling up a cricket farming venture for a sustainable alternative food source./.