Launching the GREAT 2 Lao Cai Project

Attending the launching ceremony were Mr. Hoang Quoc Khanh, Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Steering Committee of the GREAT project in Lao Cai province; Ms. Cherie Anne Russell, Counselor for Development Cooperation, Australian Embassy in Vietnam, Co-Head of the Steering Committee of the GREAT 2 project in Lao Cai province; representatives of the Ministry of Planning and Investment; representatives of the People's Committees of districts and cities in the project area; representatives of enterprises, project management units implementing the Cowater International project, co-implementing units, financial institutions and universities and colleges in the province.

Scene of the GREAT 2 Lao Cai Project Launch Ceremony.

The Gender Responsive Agriculture and Tourism (GREAT) Project is funded by the Australian Government and will be implemented from 2017 to 2027 in Lao Cai and Son La provinces with a total aid value of 67.4 million Australian dollars. This project aims to enhance economic empowerment for women, especially ethnic minority women in Lao Cai and Son La provinces.

Phase 1 of the project in Lao Cai province from 2018 to 2022 was implemented with many activities that helped 6,819 women increase their income; 1,568 women have new jobs, 86% of women participating in the project feel more confident; mobilized 3.14 million USD of private investment in the fields of agriculture and tourism...

Project coordinator introduces project information.

In Lao Cai province, phase 2 of the project will be implemented from 2022 - 2027 in most districts, towns and cities with a total investment of more than VND 244 billion, of which non-refundable ODA capital from the Australian Government is more than VND 236 billion.

The focus of the project is to develop the market system for agricultural products, strengthen the capacity of the tourism sector, thereby increasing the economic power of women. It is expected that over 14,000 women, 70% of whom are ethnic minority women (EM) living in Lao Cai province, will benefit from the GREAT 2 Lao Cai Project.

The project is expected to help increase income, participation in socio-economic activities, status and confidence of women in the family, community and production and business environment. Through the project, it will contribute to supporting Lao Cai province in implementing national target programs and Vietnam's gender equality strategy.

Comrade Hoang Quoc Khanh delivered a speech at the project launch.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Mr. Hoang Quoc Khanh, Head of the Steering Committee of the GREAT Project in Lao Cai province, emphasized: With the positive results and impacts after implementing phase 1, Lao Cai province continues to receive support from the Australian Government by implementing the GREAT 2 Lao Cai Project. To implement the GREAT 2 Project, Lao Cai province has completed the Steering Committee, organization, apparatus, and arranged operating budget for the GREAT 2 Lao Cai Project Management Board; completed documents and instructions for project implementation. Up to now, all preparations for the GREAT 2 Lao Cai Project have been completed, and the province is committed to implementing project activities immediately after the Project Announcement and Launch Ceremony.

Comrade Hoang Quoc Khanh and Ms. Cherie Anne Russell discussed the project implementation agreement.

Previously, in March 2024, representatives of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee and the Australian Embassy in Vietnam signed an Agreement to implement the Project to promote gender equality through improving the economic efficiency of agricultural production and tourism development in Lao Cai province. This is an important legal basis for the GREAT 2 Lao Cai Project to officially move from the preparation phase to the implementation phase.

The GREAT 2 Lao Cai project will be managed and coordinated by Cowater International (Canada) under the mandate of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/khoi-dong-du-an-great-2-lao-cai-post383808.html