Australia Vietnam Water Week 2021

Water Security for Sustainable Development Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1973, Vietnam and Australia have built strong and substantive relations on the basis of mutual respect and interest. Since then Vietnam and Australia’s bilateral relationship has gone from strength to strength and in 2019 H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Viet Nam and Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison elevated the relationship and pledged commitment to deepening ties that contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

Peace, stability and prosperity will not be achieved without water security. Water security reduces poverty, advances education, and increases living standards. It is a foundation for improved quality of life for all, especially for the most vulnerable—usually women and children—who benefit most from good water governance. The water sector provides  essential services to our populations, delivers a vital input to agriculture, businesses across the industrial and services sector, and is playing an increasing role in enhancing the liveability of our urban communities.

Our water sectors are now focused on future policy directions and for good reason. The efficiency and quality of its services can impact the national economy, the productivity of cities and rural communities and the health and wellbeing of all. This has been all too evident in recent times as our water sectors have been at the front line in response to new extremes in flood and drought and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Vietnam and Australian water sectors have collaborated for many years and achieved significant outcomes together, including in response to COVID-19. But as the world, and the challenges facing our water sectors change, the time has come to take stock of these challenges and strengthen the dialogue for our countries water leaders to plan for our water future and map how best our sectors can support one another in his journey.

The Australian water sector is now at a critical junction with the Review of the National Water Initiative underway – the Australia’s blueprint for whole of country water reform. The Vietnam water sector is also going through a period of significant change as it implements targets for safe, secure, sustainable, and efficient water and wastewater services and embracing innovation and private sector participation – important aspects of both our countries water policy directions.

The Vietnam-Australia Water Week brings together leaders from across both our water sectors to share our experiences, discuss our water future, support each other’s policy directions, and identify opportunities for our water sectors to collaborate to best support of this. I look forward to joining and receiving the communique on the forum’s outcomes and strategic directions.

Program Overview

The AWA and VWSA are proud to be facilitating the Vietnam Australia Water Week (VAWW). The week provides an important opportunity for our water sectors to come together and share experiences and outcomes and contribute to shaping the future of our partnerships. The week will be delivered as a hybrid face to face – virtual conference and exhibition involving participation from across governments, water utilities, technology innovators, R&D institutions and young water professionals involved in water governance from both Australia and Vietnam. Coinciding with Vietwater Hanoi, participants can either join in person or attend virtually from anywhere in the world.

Agenda

Day 1: Wednesday 15 September 2021

• Session 1: Time: 8:45am–11:30pm ICT | 11:30am – 2:30pm AEST
• Session 2: Time: 1:00pm–3:00pm ICT / 4:00pm–6:00pm AEST

Day 2: Thursday, 16 September 2021

• Session 3: Water Security for Sustainable Development: Policy and Regulation to Deliver Water | Time: 8:30am–12:00pm ICT | 11:30am–3:00pm AEST

• Session 4: Enabling Private Sector Participation in Water | Time: 1:00pm–3:00pm ICT | 4:00pm–6:00pm AEST

Day 3: Friday, 17 September 2021

• Session 5: Unlocking Innovation for Achieving Water Security | Time: 9:00am–12:00pm ICT / 12:00pm–3:00pm AEST

Venue: Daewoo Hotel, Hanoi, Vietnam and Online link here. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided Click HERE to know more about the program.