Vietnam-UK determined to promote trade

LONDON (VNS) – A major conference on trade, investment and business opportunities in Viet Nam has been held in Kent to inform British businesses of the potential in the Vietnamese market.

The event was held on November 9, 2012 by a number of interested parties, one day after the sixth session of the UK-Viet Nam Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) concluded in London.

Vietnamese senior government officials, trade officials, diplomats and a CEO were speakers at the conference, which gave businesses representatives more details about Viet Nam's emerging market.

Former UK Ambassador to Viet Nam and Acting chairman of Locate in Kent, Warwick Morris, told the conference that he enjoyed working in Viet Nam for three years (2000-2003) at a time when its economy was just starting to take off. Viet Nam experienced nearly a decade of high economic growth - around 6.5 per cent a year. He said it had brought tremendous changes for Viet Nam, a country that had suffered a long period of hardship since reunification in 1976.

Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry Ho Thi Kim Thoa, who was co-chaired the JETCO 6, told the participants that since 2010, the two-way trade volume between Britian and Viet Nam achieved an average increase of 20 per cent a year and topped US$3 billion in 2011.

Deputy Director for Trade and Investment of UKTI in Viet Nam, Piers Craven, said UK exports to Viet Nam have increased remarkably in the last couple of years. Next year will be an important landmark for the two countries as they celebrate 40 years of diplomatic ties.

Craven also explained the reason why Viet Nam offers potential for UK firms. He said the South east Asian country is among the highest growth markets in the world and is also the 13th most populous country. Its population is young and increasingly well educated; contributing to the dynamic and committed Vietnamese workforce. Viet Nam also offers a strategical geographical advantage in Asia, Craven added.

In previous months, similar events were held by the UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) in Manchester; the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a number of trade missions, including one led by the Lord Mayor of the City of London in September, when he visited Viet Nam to study the market.

Source: VNS

Finland to include Da Nang in innovation programme

DA NANG — The central city will be included as a partner in the second phase of the Innovation Partnership Programme (IPP) in Viet Nam between 2012-16, the Finish ambassador to Viet Nam, Kimmo Lahdevirta, told the city's administration.

IPP, which is an Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme financed by the governments of Viet Nam and Finland, aims to strengthen Viet Nam's National Innovation System (NIS).

The first phase of the programme was launched in 2009 in the eight cities and provinces of Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Thua Thien-Hue, HCM City, Can Tho, Lam Dong and An Giang.

The ambassador also said many hi-tech businesses from Finland have been seeking investment opportunities in Viet Nam, and Da Nang was seen as a potential location for investment. 

Source: VNS

Danish Prime Minister starts official visit to Vietnam

 Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning Schmidt

 (Photo: VNA) 

Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning Schmidt starts her two-day official visit to Vietnam on November 7.

The visit is made at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Denmark and Vietnam set up their diplomatic relations in 1971.

The two countries’ relations have seen fine developments over the past years, with two-way trade on a rising trend. Vietnam exports to Denmark garment,

footwear, wooden products, metal products, handicrafts, electric equipment and coffee, while importing chemicals, mechanical products and milk from the country. 

Denmark was one of the first foreign investors in Vietnam , and by August this year, the country registered 101 valid projects worth 625 million USD, ranking 25 th out of 96 countries and territories investing in Vietnam.

Denmark is also among the largest providers of official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam with over 1 billion USD provided since 1972.

Despite the 2009 financial crisis, Denmark committed 67.9 million USD in ODA to Vietnam in the 2010 fiscal year, an increase of nearly 6.6 percent compared to 2008.

The assistance focuses on infrastructure development, poverty reduction, sustainable development, administrative reforms, environmental protection, climate change adaptation and assistance to small- and medium-sized enterprises.

In the fight against climate change, Denmark is Vietnam’s largest donor with 40 million USD for a programme on climate change adaptation and impact mitigation. Vietnam is the only country in Asia where Denmark implements a research programme on climate change adaptation.

On the occasion of the 40 th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, Vietnam and Denmark signed a joint statement on the establishment of their strategic partnership in climate change, energy, environment and green economy in November 2011.

During Prime Minister Schmidt’s visit, the two sides will discuss measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation in politics, diplomacy, economics, trade, investment, education and training, and culture.

They will also seek ways to promote Denmark ’s investment and trade cooperation projects in Vietnam , especially in sea port, maritime shipping, green technology, renewable energy and cement industry.

Danish Ambassador to Vietnam John Nielsen said the visit, the first ever made by a Danish Prime Minister to Vietnam , is a clear sign of strong bilateral relations between the two countries.

He further said that during her visit, Prime Minister Schmidt will launch a growth campaign in Vietnam, which is a step forward to the signing of a comprehensive cooperation agreement between the two countries in Copenhagen in 2013.

Source: VNA/Vietnam+

Russian Prime Minister to visit Viet Nam

(VNA - 01/11/2012) - Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will pay an official visit to Viet Nam from November 6-7 at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung. 

Source: MOFA

European Council delighted with pace of Viet Nam trade relations

President Truong Tan Sang (right) receives EC President Herman Van Rompuy yesterday in Ha Noi. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyen Khang

HA NOI (VNS)— Both Viet Nam and the European Council (EC) have declared themselves pleased with the rapid and positive development of bilateral relations in the areas of trade, politics and co-operation over recent years.

The remarks were made in speeches delivered by President Truong Tan Sang and the EC President Herman Van Rompuy in Ha Noi yesterday.

During the talks the two sides agreed to exchange delegations more regularly, and discussed ways of creating and encouraging more favourable conditions for Vietnamese and EU businesses to make long-time investment in each other's markets.

The EU pledged to provide Viet Nam with technical assistance and to step up negotiations to complete the signing of their Free Trade Agreement. They also agreed to formally recognise the status of Viet Nam's market economy as soon as possible.

Viet Nam asked the EU to maintain the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) for the country in the 2013-2015 period, and prioritise the implementation of the Mutual Recognition Agreement.

It also thanked the EU and its member countries for providing Viet Nam with official development assistance over many years. The two sides agreed to closely co-ordinate in the near future to effectively implement ODA programmes which will focus on poverty reduction, sustainable development, environmental protection and climate change adaptation.

They reached a consensus on intensifying dialogue and co-operation at regional and international forums, especially those within the framework of the United Nations and the Asia-Europe Meeting.

Viet Nam praised the EU's contributions to the establishment of the ASEAN Community, and its commitment to helping ASEAN become an important core in East Asia.

With its role as a co-ordinator for ASEAN-EU relations in the 2012-2015 period, Viet Nam will try its best to promote this relationship, Sang said.

The two sides also supported efforts to build Southeast Asia into a region of peace, stability, co-operation and friendship, stressing the need to ensure maritime security, safety and freedom in the East Sea.

A contract was signed worth 150-million-EUR (US$195 million), funded by the European Investment Bank, to finance investments fighting climate change, and a statement was made on the signing of the EU Multilateral Trade Assistance Project.

Party, Gov't leaders

The same day, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung also met with the visiting European Council President.

During the meeting, Party leader Trong spoke highly of the effectiveness of EU's co-operation and assistance to Viet Nam as well as its pledge for further assistance to the country until 2020.

Viet Nam hopes the EU will intensify and expand multifaceted co-operation in the fields where the two sides share strengths, Trong said.

For his part, Rompuy said the EU will maintain its assistance to Viet Nam as well as support the country's sustainable development, institutional reform and human resources development, and encourage European businesses to increase investment in Viet Nam.

The EU hopes to be a partner of Viet Nam not only in economics and trade but also in politics, he said, adding that the union also supports the settlement of marine disputes through peaceful measures on the basis of the international law.

At his reception for President Rompuy, Prime Minister Dung said that there is huge potential for co-operation between the two sides.

He also suggested both sides further enhance economic, trade, investment and tourism co-operation.

Viet Nam is improving its business environment and always welcomes and creates favourable conditions for EU investors in the country, he said.

Dung added that the two sides should continue to work closely during the first round of negotiations of the Free Trade Agreement, and for implementing the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement.

While asking the EU for early recognition of Viet Nam's market economy status, Dung expressed his hope that the union will keep providing ODA to Viet Nam in building infrastructure, human resources training and coping with the impact of climate change and rising sea levels. — VNS

Source: Việt Nam News