Long standing relationship with Binh Dinh Province

The Embassy renewed its long acquaintance with Binh Dinh province this month. Ambassador Heather Riddell travelled to the main city, Quy Nhon last week accompanied by Trade Commissioner Graham Sims to meet with local authorities, touch base with the NZ Aid Programme’s rural livelihoods project team, and explore possible commercial linkages in areas where New Zealand has particular expertise such as wood processing and timber treatment, and waste management.

New Zealand has a long standing relationship with Binh Dinh dating back to the 1960s when a NZ medical team was based in the province. Until recently a Volunteer Service Abroad team was based in the area, and we have had a long development assistance (ODA) association with the province, formerly in the education and health sectors and currently through a rural livelihoods project aimed at improving access to markets by poor farmers. The project focuses on safe vegetable, livestock, and coconut production.