(VNF) - From April 13th-18th, Australian Ambassador Mr Hugh Borrowman is paying a visit to the Central cities of Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An to promote multifaceted cooperation between Australia and these localities, ranging from education and training, trade to gender equality and inclusive growth.

In Hue and Da Nang, in addition to meetings with local government leaders, on April 16th, the Ambassador will launch a pilot English language and hospitality skills training program, with seed funding from the Australian Government. The Da Nang-based project aims to help meet Vietnam’s increasing demand for skilled human resources as well as to enable local participants to take advantage of increased work opportunities in regional countries brought about by the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the ASEAN Economic Community.

On the same day, he is scheduled to attend the second disability inclusive fashion show “I am beautiful and You too” in Hoi An, organized by Australia Awards alumna Thao Van and her team at Will to Live and funded by the GPFD (Partnerships for Development program)’s partnership between the Centre for Women’s Development and Australia’s Flinders University. Twenty female models with disability from south and central Vietnam will participate in this show, which promotes equal opportunities for people with disability.

Then, the Ambassador will visit Hue University to encourage institutional partnerships between Australian universities and the Central educational hub as well as to introduce the Australian Government’s signature New Colombo Plan and scholarship programs.

He will also meet Australian volunteers working in the city and attend a workshop on managing and preserving Hue Citadel - a joint project between students from South Australia University and Hue University of Science./.

( VNF )