Today I announce the appointment of Ms Kate Wallace as Australia's next Consul-General in Ho Chi Minh City.
Australia and Vietnam are Comprehensive Strategic Partners, and our close friendship is built on mutual strategic trust and understanding. Dynamic economic, trade and people-to-people links are central to our relationship.
Vietnam is Australia's 14th largest trading partner, with two-way trade reaching $28.5 billion in 2024-25. We are working together to further boost trade and investment through the implementation of Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.
Vietnam has been Australia's strongest major growth market for international visitors and is a popular destination among Australian travellers.
Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam's commercial centre and shares strong people-to-people, education and business links with Australia.
Ms Wallace is a senior officer in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently Assistant Secretary, Multilateral Peace, Security and Candidacies Branch. She has previously served as acting Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Hanoi.
I thank outgoing Consul-General Ms Sarah Hooper for her contributions to advancing Australia's interests in Ho Chi Minh City since 2022.
