The Australian and Vietnam Water Association’s twinning program, supported by the Australian Water Partnership, has now commenced following the signing of the Twinning agreements at Ozwater’17 between:

• Son La Water Company – Cairns Regional Council
• Saigon Water – SeqWater
• Binh Duong – Wannon Water, Victoria
• Phu Tho – Coliban Water, Victoria
• Hue Water Corporation – West Australia Water Corporation

The Twinning program takes forward key water reform objectives of the Australian and Vietnam Government in their efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal aimed at universal access to safe and clean water by offering Australian expertise in delivering safe and reliable water, wastewater and drainage services to water professionals in Vietnam.

The water utilities involved in the program have now developed and commenced implementation of their twinning plans of action.  The plans of action focus on sharing of knowledge and resources to improve key areas of management and expansion of water and wastewater management facilities and the development of skills in business planning, finance and contract management, as well as technical skills essential for operation and maintenance of new facilities.

Each twin has now undertaken their first mission to their respective twins with further trips now being planned for the duration of the program.  A central platform for knowledge sharing amongst the twins and across the broader water sectors of Australia and Vietnam will be Ozwater’18 and Vietwater, Vietnam’s largest water conference and exhibition to be held in Ho Chi Minh City 8-10 November where twinning workshops and activities will take place.

If you would like to get involved in the twinning program please contact Robbie Goedecke, Australian Water Association International Projects Officer.

If you would like to get involved in the Association’s broader International Program in Vietnam including trade opportunities please consider joining the Australian delegation to Vietwater 8-10 November 2017.

Contribution by Paul Smith, Australian Water Association

Media releases

Cairns Regional Council: Water expertise shared through twinning program
Cairns Regional Council: Expertise shared across global waters
Vietnam Water Supply Association: Vietnam’s special programs at Ozwater’17 (in Vietnamese)