Background

The Mekong Delta is the third largest industrial centre in Vietnam
and contributes 70% of Vietnam's agricultural and fishery exports.
However, poor road networks and vulnerability to natural disasters
have prevented agricultural and industrial investments that would lead
to increased economic activity and improved living standards for
local communities.

To support the Government of Vietnam address this, Australia
has co-financed the civil works for the Cao Lanh Bridge, as well as
25km of interconnecting roads. Australian support is ensuring new
infrastructure is built to be resilient to climate change, thereby
enabling the Mekong Delta to achieve its vast agricultural and
industrial potential in the long term.

Expected Results

• Five million people of An Giang, Can Tho, and Dong Thap provinces
  are expected to directly benefit from the bridge, with 170,000 people using the road daily.
• Boost private sector investment and local industry, and improve
  access to social and health services by removing a critical transport
  bottleneck and connecting producers with major markets in
  Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.
• Increase national and global food security by boosting agro-industry
  and exports (Vietnam is the third largest exporter of rice).
• Introduce new technical engineering solutions to improve the
  quality and safety of infrastructure, including protecting it from
  climate-related events such as sea level rise.
• Vietnamese partners will be equipped with new and effective ways
  to manage and maintain large infrastructure projects, reducing
  future maintenance costs.
• More than two thousand affected or poor households living in the
  project area are supported with income restoration and/or micro
  finance programs, including agricultural and vocational training,
  small business establishment, and house upgrades.