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Vice chairwoman of HCM City Nguyen Thi Hong makes a speech at the event.—VNS Photo Le Thu Ngan
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HCM CITY (Biz Hub) – A delegation of 47 representatives from the EU's industrial associations and companies began a visit to Viet Nam on Tuesday to seek business opportunities in the country.
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EU-Viet Nam Business Network opens
The inauguration of the new EU – Viet Nam Business Network (EVBN) was organised on Tuesday in HCM City with the witness of Vice President Antonio Tajani, European Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry.
The network is set up with the main aim of assisting new small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on the cultural, legal and administrative aspects of setting up shops in Viet Nam.
It also play a key role in strengthening the activities of EU companies in ASEAN region including Viet Nam by helping EU companies seek and exploit business opportunities.
Operating in five years, the network hopes increase the trade turnover between EU and Viet Nam in the coming time. — VNS
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With a theme of "Mission for Growth", the visit is led by Vice President Antonio Tajani, European Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry, as a part of the EU's efforts to deepen economic relations with countries in the dynamic ASEAN region.
Representing mostly key EU areas related to Viet Nam, such as tourism, agri-business and manufactured goods, the mission has several main objectives, including innovation and sustainable and inclusive growth in the EU and in Viet Nam; and assistance to EU companies, particularly small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the ASEAN region; and promotion of EU's industry in targeted sectors.
On Tuesday in HCM City, the delegation participated in a matchmaking event with local entrepreneurs to share business information.
In Ha Noi on Wednesday, Vice President Tajani will meet with Government officials, including Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang and Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh.
In the press conference on Tuesday in HCM City, Tajani said that EU and Viet Nam today will sign a letter of intent to establish a dialogue on SME policy to ensure a higher degree of co-operation between export-oriented SMEs on both sides.
The dialogue will pay particular attention to the exchange of best practices to create SME-friendly legislation, public-private business consultations and co-operation in research and innovation and the exchange of best practices for SME internationalisation and co-operation, as well as the development of strong business associations.
A letter of intent on a sustainable tourism between EU and Viet Nam will also be signed today.
It aims to promote dialogue and co-operation between the two sides on initiatives on sustainable tourism.
In addition, the two sides will exchange best practices in the fields of natural and cultural heritage preservation and promotion, SMEs, training and skills and the improvement of tourism services quality.
Trade and investment between the EU and Viet Nam has been steadily growing over recent years, with EU companies considering the country as a potential production base, a lucrative and growing market and one of the key gateways to the increasingly integrated ASEAN market.
However, compared to Asian competitors, the share of European trade and investment is slowly falling as European SMEs face difficulties in establishing a permanent foothold in Viet Nam. — VNS