The Australia-Vietnam Leadership Dialogue (AVLD), in partnership with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), launched the Vietnam Surges Series to provide practical insights into two-way trade and investment and highlight unique perspectives from local leaders and experts in Vietnam. 

An AVLD's gathering in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: AVLD

The Series consists of 12 video episodes accompanied by case studies, drawing on AVLD alumni from various sectors including education, agriculture, technology, sustainable city development, food & beverage, and retail. 

The episodes will be released on www.australiavietnam.org/vietnamsurgesseries monthly between January and December 2022 in both languages and will be accompanied by case studies to inspire Australian business engagement and forge new networks. 

Vietnam and Australia remain among the world’s fastest-growing economies, with Vietnam ranking 19^th globally in terms of the favorite destination for foreign direct investment and Australia maintaining its position as the world’s 13^th largest economy in 2020. Over the past 20 years, the two-way trade between two countries has grown by an average of 8.6% each year. 

With a shared commitment to trade liberalization and economic connectivity, the Australian and Vietnamese governments developed the Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy which supports an ambitious target of both countries becoming top ten trading partners of each other and doubling two-way investment.

The Series is part of the Australia-Vietnam Enhanced Economic Engagement Grant (AVEG) pilot program, designed to promote bilateral economic engagement, strengthen people-to-people links to build stronger partnerships, and support the economic recovery of Australian industries adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In recognition of Vietnam’s strong demand for Australia’s education, natural resources, and agricultural products, Robyn Mudie, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam said bilateral economic engagement is critical to the Australian and Vietnamese economies, providing jobs and prosperity. 

“The Strategy and the activities supported by AVEG, including the Series, will present monumental opportunities for Australian and Vietnamese businesses, governments, and innovators to work together to advance our goals. I look forward to the new and practical insights from AVLD and its ecosystem through the Vietnam Surges series,” she said.

AVLD Board Director Melissa Jardine welcomed the Australian Government’s commitment to increase public awareness of economic opportunities in Vietnam and the government’s efforts in raising the Asia capability of Australian businesses to effectively engage with the Vietnamese market.

“As both countries emerge from the pandemic and begin our economic recovery, the Vietnam Surges Series presents tremendous educational benefits and partnership opportunities for business leaders and innovators of both nations,” Jardine said.

Nguyen Tat Thanh, Vietnam’s Ambassador to Australia said: “The Series comes during a critical time when both countries are adversely affected by the Covid-19 crisis. It is important to develop enduring partnerships across sectors between Vietnam and Australia for Covid-19 recovery, building on our long-standing and ever-growing trade and investment relationship. AVLD is well placed, through its expansive and innovative networks, to provide unique insights into the Vietnam-Australia Strategic Partnership.”