AVPI Summary Paper: Australia Vietnam Policy Institute Conference 2024

The Australia-Vietnam bilateral relationship, built over the last 50 years, is underpinned by trust and understanding. The elevation of the relationship in March 2024 to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) underscores the willingness on both sides to deepen economic, political and people-to-people ties.

The inaugural Australia Vietnam Policy Institute (AVPI) Conference in Adelaide on 17 October 2024 provided an opportunity to examine the evolving bilateral relationship and explore critical and timely issues under the theme ‘Embracing transition, transformation and trust.’ The conference convened leaders from government, business, and academia to address the shared opportunities and challenges that will shape future bilateral collaboration.

The discussions spanned several vital areas, including trade and investment, education and workforce development, sustainability, and technological innovation. This paper seeks to capture and explore the key themes that emerged from the conference, focusing on how both countries are positioning themselves for mutual growth and resilience, and providing recommendations for policy interventions.

Key Takeaways

To enhance Australia’s role in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Vietnam, the following actions are proposed:

1. Expand investment in green and digital infrastructure – Australia and Vietnam should deepen their collaboration on green technology and digital transformation by expanding investment in renewable energy and digital infrastructure projects.
2. Facilitate skills mobility and mutual recognition of qualifications – To foster deeper collaboration in priority sectors and support skills development, Australia should explore initiatives to facilitate the movement of skilled professionals between the two countries.
3. Strengthened and more purposeful diaspora engagement – Australia’s Vietnamese diaspora offer invaluable insights and connections that could deepen economic ties and ease market entry into Vietnam.

To support Vietnam in leveraging its partnership with Australia and advancing its development priorities, the following recommendations are proposed:

1. Create an enabling environment for investment in green and digital infrastructure – Vietnam should continue to streamline its regulatory framework and reduce existing investment barriers in order to attract greater Australian investment. Simplifying
2. Promote bilateral skills development and innovation – Vietnam should prioritise strengthening and expanding partnerships with Australian universities, vocational institutions and other research bodies to establish joint bilateral skills academies focused on emerging industries.
3. Expand innovative agricultural technology partnerships – Vietnam’s advancements in agricultural production and emphasis on integrating digital solutions to improve yields, efficiency and productivity, make it well-placed to collaborate and partner with Australia’s AgTech industry.