Australian mining firms Blackstone Minerals and Mincore have signed cooperation agreements with Vietnam’s Hanoi University of Mining and Geology. No details of the deal have been given but this is inline with the Australian miners’ pursuit of access to Vietnam’s mineral reserves.

Of note, earlier this year, Empress Catherine II St. Petersburg Mining University and Hanoi University of Mining and Geology also signed a partnership agreement. 

Whereas these agreements ostensibly look to be in the pursuit of academic research in the mining sector, connections and networking hold a lot of sway in doing business in Vietnam. 

With reserves estimated to be the second biggest in the world after China, and rare earth minerals becoming increasingly necessary in a slew of electronics, miners from all over have been actively courting partnerships with Vietnamese mining firms. Needless to say, partnerships with local universities is one way for these firms to open doors.

See also: Vietnam’s Rare Earth Partnership Contenders: Unpacked