Australian Ambassador visited Thai Nguyen for “Clean Up the World” day

The Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, HE Mr Hugh Borrowman visited Thai Nguyen province today to attend the national launch of Vietnam’s 2014 Clean Up the World campaign. He also met researchers at Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry, which has an Australian Government funded project; visited a water project, also funded by the Australian Government; and toured Masan Resources’ mine at Nui Phao.

At the launch of Vietnam’s 2014 “Clean Up the World” campaign today, the Ambassador shared his concerns about the environment and encouraged the people of Thai Nguyen to take action to protect the planet. “The Clean Up the World campaign is no longer just about picking up rubbish. It also provides us an opportunity to think about reducing and recycling waste. It is not just about cleaning: it is also about creating a safe and sustainable living space for us all. And it is not just about us but about future generations as well,” said the Australian Ambassador.

After the launch, the Ambassador met staff of the Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry (TUAF) to talk about “Overcoming technical and market constraints to the emergence of profitable beef enterprises in the north-western highlands of Vietnam”, a project funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. The project is aimed at supporting technical and agribusiness research to enhance smallholder incomes.

The Ambassador also visited the Khoi Ky Clean Water Supply Station. This is a part of an AUD7 million ‘Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Output-Based Project’ funded by the Australian Government. The project has connected 314 households (1,184 people) in Dai Tu District to clean water.

Whilst in Thai Nguyen, the Ambassador also visited Nui Phao mine of Masan Resources, an Australian-managed mining company. Nui Phao holds among the world’s largest deposits of tungsten, fluorspar and bismuth, as well as deposits of copper. The technology of the processing plant was designed and supplied by Australian companies and it is the 2nd biggest tungsten processing plant in the world.

For further information about the visit to Thai Nguyen by Australian Ambassador, please contact Ms Dinh Thi Viet Anh (mob: 0903 423 440 or email: [email protected]).