MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
Six south-east Queensland companies have won Federal Government contracts to supply more than $20 million in materials and equipment for an Australian aid project in Vietnam.
How more Australian businesses can become involved in Australia's overseas aid program will be discussed at a public seminar at the Southport RSL this Friday morning (19 June). The seminar will be hosted by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Member for Moncrieff, Kathy Sullivan M.P. (Lib, QLD).
'The five-year, $70 million Vietnam Provincial Water Supply and Sanitation Project will help provide clean running water in five provincial towns, and will benefit more than 400,000 people by providing households with clean, safe running water - either through their own tap or a community tap,' Mrs Sullivan said
'The project is being managed for AusAID (the Australian Agency for International Development) by leading engineering firm Kinhill, supported by partners ACIL Australia and Montgomery Watson Australia, in cooperation with Vietnam's Ministry of Construction.'
In February Mrs Sullivan officially commissioned the first water treatment plant to be opened as part of the Vietnam project in Bac Giang, north of Hanoi.
'Each year, overseas aid contracts valued at more than $350 million are won by Australian businesses - both small and large - and there are great opportunities for more of them to get involved,' Mrs Sullivan said
'The Vietnam Provincial Water Supply Project is an excellent example of AusAID working together with the Australian business community for the benefit of people in developing countries.
'Fifteen Australian companies were successful in winning contracts worth more than $30 million to supply equipment and materials for the Vietnam project. Queensland companies got the largest share - contracts worth more than $20 million.'
Aquatec Maxcon, which has its head office and factory at Ipswich, is the largest supplier for the project with a contract worth approximately $10.1 million.
'This has been a very substantial project for us and it has given us an excellent opportunity to get to know people in the water business in Vietnam,' managing director Greg Johnson said.
'We hope to build some enduring relationships on the back of our presence during this particular project.'
Aquatec is supplying mechanical and electrical equipment, including water filters and clarifiers, for four of the five plants.
'The guarantee of a safe water supply and the safe disposal of human waste has the biggest single impact on people's life expectancy,' Mr Johnson said.
'I think it's extremely valuable to be able to leave the people of Vietnam an enduring benefit such as a water treatment plant to improve life expectancy and general productivity.'
Mr Johnson said the contract had other spin-offs for local businesses.
'This contract has provided $10 million worth of work for us, but it has almost been spent again with other Australian companies. We are buying pumps, pipes and fibreglass tanks, for example, from other businesses so there's not just one impact, but a real flow-on impact.'
Brendale's Iplex Pipelines provided pipes and fittings for the project.
'In this project we have been able to transfer technology into Vietnam, along with our products,' export development manager John Ginnivan said.
'It's important to remember that it's not just about selling commodities. It goes much further in that we are able to build relationships in a particular country with some very influential people which can be useful in the future with other opportunities outside of AusAID.
'Projects like these are really a kickstart to a history of trading with another country.'
The other Queensland companies involved in the project are Crevet Pipelines (Eagle Farm), Vinidex Tubemakers (Coopers Plains), Auslog (Sumner Park), and Brisbane Wholesale Hardware (Woolloongabba).
Media contacts:
Kristen Pratt (Mrs Sullivan's office) 02 6277 4381 or mobile 0412 313 665 Carol Haffke (AusAID) 02 6206 4966 or mobile 0417 683 767