Australia’s Queensland Regards Vietnam As Priority Market in Southeast Asia

Ambassador Pham Hung Tam appreciated the position and importance of the state of Queensland, saying that the two sides have much potential for cooperation, especially in trade and investment.
July 15, 2024 | 07:13
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Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam has recently received Justin McGowan, chief executive officer for Trade and Investment of Queensland.

At the meeting, Justin McGowan expressed satisfaction with the positive progress in relations between the two countries, especially recent results in trade and investment relations between Vietnam and the state of Queensland.

Ambassador Pham Hung Tam and Justin McGowan, chief executive officer for Trade and Investment of Queensland.
Ambassador Pham Hung Tam and Justin McGowan, chief executive officer for Trade and Investment of Queensland.

Justin McGowan affirmed that the state of Queensland focuses on implementing the Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 and the Queensland Trade and Investment Strategy to 2032, which values ​​​​cooperative relations with Vietnam, considering Vietnam as the top priority market in Southeast Asia, and among the top five international trade partners.

MacGowan said that he welcomes the increasing attention and presence of Vietnamese businesses in Queensland, including Sofico Group, Vingroup, TH Group, and Vietjet Air. He pledged to create favorable conditions for other businesses to promote investment and trade in the state.

The Australian official also highlighted Queensland’s various potential and strengths, especially in terms of agriculture, mining, renewable energy, and education.

He agreed to coordinate with the Vietnamese Embassy in Australia to welcome Vietnamese delegations to Queensland in the coming time. He also hoped the two sides would strengthen activities to promote people-to-people exchanges, especially between friendship parliamentary groups of the two countries.

For his part, Ambassador Tam voiced his appreciation for the important position and role of Queensland, stating that the two sides have huge potential for greater collaboration, especially in relation to trade and investment. The diplomat said that he hopes both sides will move to increase two-way investment, including considering promoting investment in new fields such as clean energy and digital transformation, as well as expanding investment in potential areas such as high-quality agriculture.

He asked for Queensland’s coordination to support Vietnamese delegations that will visit the state in the future as they seek investment and business opportunities in the coming time. The Ambassador expressed his wish that the state would hasten the renewal of its collaboration agreements with Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.

The same day, the Vietnamese diplomat met with Commissioner of the Australian Border Force (ABF) Michael Outram at the ABF office, during which he proposed the two sides continue to coordinate to implement important outcomes achieved during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to Australia last March, particularly in security and defense cooperation.

Australian Border Force (ABF) Commissioner Michael Outram. Photo: VNP
Australian Border Force (ABF) Commissioner Michael Outram. Photo: VNP

At the meeting, ABF Commissioner Michael Outram appreciated the positive developments in the two countries' relationship, especially in the field of security and defense after the two countries upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Tam appreciated the results of Outram's visit to Vietnam and welcomed the signing of a plan for customs investigation collaboration and a Letter of Intent on negotiations on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation between Vietnam's Border Guard Command and the ABF. He hoped that the two sides would soon sign the MoU in the near future.

Tam also asked for the two sides' continued joint work to accelerate the organization of the first ministerial-level security dialogue in 2024 and expected that ABF will continue to support Vietnam in customs, English language training, crime and illegal migration control.

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