On April 22, the Australian Embassy led by Ms. Naomi Cook, Counselor for Development Cooperation, Australian Embassy in Vietnam, visited and worked with Son La province to evaluate the Great 2 Project on "Promoting gender equality through improving economic efficiency of agricultural production and tourism development in Son La province (GREAT 2 Son La).

The Provincial People's Committee worked with the delegation of the Australian Embassy in Vietnam.

Receiving and working with the delegation, Son La province had comrade Trang Thi Xuan, member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Steering Committee of the GREAT 2 Son La Project; leaders of a number of departments and branches of the province.

Leaders of the Department of Finance reported on the implementation results of the GREAT 2 Son La project.

Delegation from the Australian Embassy in Vietnam attended the meeting.

GREAT 2 Son La has developed a market system in the fields of agriculture and tourism. The strategy supports 4 cross-cutting issues such as: Access to finance; digital transformation; development of women-owned enterprises/cooperatives; communication to change behavior. Support for policy development, completion and implementation. The plan is to develop and implement 13 sub-projects. To date, the project has had 8 proposals approved for implementation, reaching 61.5% and 5 proposals are completing proposals.

The total investment of the project is 15,201,287 UAD (Australian dollars) equivalent to 250.8 billion VND. Of which, the non-refundable ODA capital is 14,322,500 AUD, equivalent to about 236.3 billion VND. By March 2025, the project had disbursed AUD 4,116,445, reaching 29% of the total funding. Counterpart funds from the local budget (public investment capital) were VND 14.5 billion; at the time of reporting, VND 3.5 billion had been disbursed.

Son La province proposed that the Sponsor allow the use of project funding for suspended activities, switching to supporting 50% of the cost of bamboo shoot seedlings to create conditions for poor households to have the opportunity to improve their income and enhance their socio-economic empowerment.

The Standing Vice Chairman of the Son La Provincial People's Committee spoke at the meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, Ms. Trang Thi Xuan thanked the Australian Embassy and Government for supporting Son La province to promote and implement the project. At the same time, she hoped to continue receiving attention and support from the Australian Government so that the GREAT 2 Project could be effectively implemented, especially in implementing agricultural and tourism activities in chains, promoting digital transformation, digital integration and capacity for people, cooperatives and businesses.

The province will focus on directing departments and branches to proactively coordinate with the Project to promptly complete the proposals for the remaining 5 sub-projects as soon as possible, ensuring that the project is implemented effectively, achieving the set goals and roadmap.

The delegation of the Australian Embassy in Vietnam hopes that Son La province will speed up the progress of completing the proposals for 5 sub-projects, including: Digital integration in agriculture and tourism; developing Vietnamese ginseng in Son La; Developing medicinal herbs in Son La; promoting and innovating supply chain management; economics of behavioral change on gender equality.

Son La Provincial People's Committee presents gifts to the Australian Embassy in Vietnam delegation.

Previously, on April 21, the Australian Embassy in Vietnam delegation visited the homestay of Ms. Ha Thi Khuyen, Phu Mau village, Chieng Yen commune, Van Ho district, a beneficiary of the digital transformation sub-project and visited the model of Ms. Lo Thi Toan, Phuong Quynh village, Yen Son commune, Yen Chau district, a beneficiary of the business promotion and leadership sub-project for female entrepreneurs.

Delegation from the Australian Embassy in Vietnam visited the homestay model of Ms. Ha Thi Khuyen.

Ms. Ha Thi Khuyen talks with the delegation of the Australian Embassy in Vietnam.

Delegation from the Australian Embassy in Vietnam visited Ms. Lo Thi Toan's model.