Australia prioritises economic ties with Vietnam: Expert

The Vietnam visit on July 13 by Australian Minister for   Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan showed that Australia is prioritising economic ties with Vietnam as their strategic partnership is growing strongly and practically in various areas, especially in economy, trade and investment, an Australian expert has commented.

He said a number of Australian firms are studying import-export activities with Vietnam as well as investment opportunities and formation of joint ventures.

According to the expert, the Australian Government has recently funded 2.5 million AUD (nearly 2 million USD) for   tens of projects to increase business opportunities and enhance cooperative ties between firms of the two countries in diverse areas, from agriculture to education, digital technology, and supply chain of small and medium-sized enterprises.

In the first half of this year, two-way trade soared by over 40 percent year-on-year.

During meetings with the minister, Vietnamese leaders wished that Vietnam’s shrimp meatballs and passion fruits would be exported to Australia while Vietnam also wants to import coal, iron and steel, ore and rare earth from the country.

Springer suggested that within the frameworks of the CPTPP and RCEP, the two countries could develop a rare earth supply chain, under which Australia will exploit and process while Vietnam will create end-products.