The Australian and Vietnamese governments have held a ceremony to mark the beginning of construction of a new bridge across the Mekong River, which will help Vietnam sustain its economic growth and expand markets for Australian exports.
The Cao Lanh Bridge is the largest Australian aid project on mainland Southeast Asia and is funded by the Australian and Vietnamese governments and the Asian Development Bank.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Brett Mason, joined Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam, Vu Van Ninh, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the bridge on 19 October.
The Mekong Delta is Vietnam's food hub and one of the most productive agricultural and aquacultural regions in the world. However, its transport network needs a major upgrade.
'Limited infrastructure is one of the most critical constraints to the country's development,' Senator Mason said.
'As our fifth largest ASEAN trading partner, Vietnam's continued economic growth will bring expanded markets for Australian goods, services and investment.'
Australia is investing $160 million in the design and construction of the bridge, which will open in 2017 and is expected to be used by 170,000 people every day.
'Support from Australia and other international donors to remove critical transport bottlenecks will not only help realise the Mekong Delta's vast agricultural and industrial potential, but lift Vietnam's competitiveness by connecting people with markets across the rest of Southeast Asia and beyond,' Senator Mason said.
The Cao Lanh Bridge will improve the lives of five million Vietnamese by stimulating private sector investment and local industry, boosting Vietnam's exports, and improving access to social and health services.
The Cao Lanh Bridge is one of three infrastructure projects in the Central Mekong Delta Connectivity Project, which will create 25 kilometres of road and two high cable-stayed bridges with a combined length of 5 kilometres.
It is the second bridge Australia has helped build in Vietnam. The My Thuan Bridge, which opened in May 2000, was the first bridge across the Mekong River and Vietnam's first cable-stayed bridge.
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Senator Brett Mason and Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh (centre), together with the high level representatives from the Government of Vietnam, Government of Australia, the Asian Development Bank, and Contractor pressing the buttons to kick-off the Cao Lanh Bridge project. Cao Lanh, Dong Thap, Vietnam 19 October 2013. Photo: Mr Le Trong Hai/DFAT