The Australian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City on January 8 officially approved a Direct Aid Program (DAP) giving financial support to 11 small-scale projects in southern and central Vietnam.

The projects, with aid totalling 130,000 AUD, will help HCM City, Da Nang, Kien Giang, Soc Trang, Can Tho and Ben Tre improve public healthcare services, education and training, and infrastructure building.

The DAP managed non-refundable projects funded by the Australian Government, with expected financial aid of more than 159 million AUD between 2013 and 2014. It is also the only small-scale aid programme that assists individuals, community organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to hasten the country’s development process.-VNA