The administration of Australia’s Victoria State on August 22 announced that it will set up a trade and investment office in Ho Chi Minh City to deepen bilateral relationship and drive new trade, investment and exchange opportunities for Victorian and Vietnamese businesses.

HCM City People's Committee Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong (R) presents a souvenir
to Victoria's Governor Linda Dessau who was visiting the city on October 4 

Vietnam is Australia’s fastest growing export market in Southeast Asia, and Victoria’s Southeast Asia Trade and Investment Strategy has identified Vietnam as a priority market and emphasises opportunities to grow Victoria’s higher education and vocational education services, said the announcement.

It added that Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia’s powerhouses and emerging economies of the 21st century that’s experiencing strong economic growth and is open to enhancing two-way economic ties with Victoria.

More than 13,000 Vietnamese students are enrolled in Victorian educational institutions, and Vietnam accounts for Victoria’s third largest source of international students, which has played a significant role in strengthening our connections with the country.

Besides, the state administration also announced to provide Avalon Airport as the gateway for VietJet Air to start operating direct flights to Ho Chi Minh City from around mid-2020.

The new services will help build on the 50,000 tourists who visited Victoria from Vietnam in the past year.