MEDIA RELEASE: DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE: Aid Budget 2009-10
DATE: 4 June 2009
Australia’s International Development Assistance Program 2009-10: Vietnam
The Australian Government will provide an estimated A$105.9 million (1.431 trillion Vietnamese Dong) in development assistance to Vietnam in 2009-10. The financial year runs from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010.
This commitment underscores Australia’s long running contribution to Vietnam’s development aspirations and progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.
Australian scholarships will continue to be a high priority for the program helping Vietnam build the human resource foundation for its future prosperity.
Australia remains committed to sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Vietnam and its region. Australia continues to help Vietnam make the most of opportunities from integration into the world economy. Through new and ongoing infrastructure initiatives, Australia will provide A$28 million in 2009-10 to support major transport projects and regional road building to connect poor rural areas to key regional transport and economic corridors, especially in the Mekong Delta Region.
Australia will continue to work with the Government of Vietnam to improve the lives of the poor through increased access to clean water and sanitation facilities in rural areas. In 2009-10 we will also provide funding to improve Vietnam’s health system to ensure quality, cost effective care is accessible by the whole population, especially the poor. By strengthening disaster preparedness in communities, Australia will help minimise the impacts of natural disasters.
Funds will also be used to help Vietnam manage cross-border and regional threats such as HIV/AIDS, people and drug trafficking and transnational crime, and address issues relating to corruption and gender equality. Australia will also help to reduce the incidence of preventable blindness and improve the quality of life for people with low vision and blindness, through the Avoidable Blindness Initiative.
Globally, Australia will provide A$3.8 billion in total official development assistance (ODA) in 2009–10. This represents an ODA/GNI ratio of 0.34 per cent and real growth of 5.6 per cent on the 2008-09 budget estimate of A$3.7 billion.
The 2009-10 aid budget places a particular emphasis on helping partner countries to address the impacts of the global recession.
New Budget measures are directed towards responding to the impacts of the global recession and to supporting longer-term development and capacity building efforts.