MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
Today I joined the Prime Minister of Vietnam to open the My Thuan Bridge, the
first bridge over the Mekong river in Vietnam. The bridge is a major investment
in the country's economic future by both Australia and the Government of Vietnam.
An integral part of the upgrading of the national highway, the bridge will facilitate
investment opportunities for the Mekong Delta and foster economic development.
My Thuan Bridge links the rice bowl of Vietnam to the rest of the country and
will help farmers get their produce to Ho Chi Minh city more quickly and effectively.
Currently there are lengthy delays of up to three hours waiting to cross the
Mekong River by ferry.
Australian companies, Baulderstone Hornibrook Engineering and Maunsell McIntyre,
worked closely with the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport to successfully meet
the engineering challenges posed by the bridge to construct it under budget,
ahead of schedule and with an exemplary safety record.
A feature of the project was the focus on training of Vietnamese engineers,
surveyors and construction workers. A number of engineers and surveyors attended
training courses at Monash University and construction workers were trained
on site. Expertise gained by one of the Vietnamese engineers trained has already
been used to help design a smaller cable stayed bridge in central Vietnam.
Up to 300 Australians and over 1500 Vietnamese were employed during the life
of the project.
A major infrastructure project, the bridge has brought additional benefits
to the local community through HIV/AIDS education, health clinics and training
programs.
Dubbed the Australian bridge, the My Thuan Bridge is testimony to the co-operation
between the Government of Australia and the Government of Vietnam under the
aid program.
HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM
Media contacts:
James Baker: (Ministerial) 02 6277 7500 / 0419 206 890
Fionna Douglas (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 / 0412 804 489