TVU – The Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam David Devine visited Tra Vinh University (TVU) in a trip set to launch enterprise development project in Tra Vinh and strengthen TVU’s academic links with Canada.
The Ambassador was greeted on the January 30 at the TVU Campus One by Mr. Dong Van Lam, the Provincial People’s Committee Chairman, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam, the Provincial People’s Committee Vice Chairman, as well as Ass. Prof. Dr. Pham Tiet Khanh, TVU Rector.
Addressing a gathering at the Launching Ceremony on Small and Medium Enterprise Development Project, Ambassador David Devine noted that one of the major impediments to small and medium businesses has always been accessing affordable finance, and it is important to accelerate private sector investment and growth.
He pointed out that the project contributes to developing and implementing key priorities of the province’s five-year Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Development Plan. The project also aims to improve environmental sustainability and ensure gender equality.
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam said since Canada and Vietnam signed a memorandum of understanding in November 2014, the Tra Vinh provincial government has committed to providing a structured framework to promote the competitiveness and development of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in the province.
The project also aims to improve SMEs’ access to markets in about 20 targeted communities in Tra Vinh province by building priority small-scale infrastructure such as waste treatment facilities, inter-village roads and bridges to improve rural transportation.
The project is being funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD-Canada), which will see over CAD$11M going towards the project. Funding is to be implemented over the period of 2014 – 2020.
Dr. Pham Tiet Khanh, TVU Rector and Chairman of the Vietnamese-Canadian Friendship Association as well as Vietnam Association of Community Colleges (VACC), said: “Tra Vinh Community College, which was granted university status in 2006, greatly benefited from the Vietnam-Canada Community College Project (VCCCP). The project, based on Canadian approaches but adapted to the Vietnamese context, is a successful model in Vietnam.”
Dr. Khanh added that the model has demonstrated a significant commitment of the two countries in implementing the project.
The Ambassador later met with the TVU governing board and was given a short tour and presentation of the University development, including opportunities for further academic links between TVU and Canadian universities.
English news by Pham Thi Diem Thi & Ngo Thi Phien
Photo by Nguyen Thanh Son
