Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc called for enhanced co-operation between Viet Nam and New Zealand in fields of mutual interest, such as education training, organic agriculture, smart agriculture and infrastructure.
He said this while addressing the Viet Nam-New Zealand Business Forum in Auckland, New Zealand, on March 13.
The event, which was attended by more than 300 businesses and investors from the two countries, was held in the framework of the Vietnamese Prime Minister’s official visit to New Zealand from March 12-14.
Phuc told the audience that Viet Nam’s business environment had significantly improved in recent years as seen in assessments made by the World Bank and the World Economic Forum.
He also cited the latest survey of the Japan External Trade Organisation in late February which showed that nearly 70 per cent of Japanese firms operating in Viet Nam had plans to expand their business in the country. More than 62 per cent of Japanese businesses claimed that doing business in Viet Nam was profitable.
According to the Business Climate Index released by the European Chamber of Commerce in Viet Nam for the last quarter of 2017, 63 per cent of businesses perceived Viet Nam’s current business climate as “good” and “very good”, while nearly 86 per cent of enterprises claimed they wanted to maintain and expand investment in the Southeast Asian country.
In February 2018, Nikkei announced that Viet Nam scored 53.5 points in the Purchasing Managers’ Index, the highest among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Phuc also reported that Viet Nam’s economic growth in the first quarter of 2018 was estimated at a record 7.41 per cent.
He affirmed the Vietnamese Government’s commitment to continue improving the business environment in the country to attract more domestic and foreign investors and ensure their interests in accordance with Vietnamese regulations.
He said when doing business in Viet Nam, New Zealand firms could access not only a nearly 100-million-strong market but also the 600-million-strong ASEAN market, along with the vast market of neighbouring China, through Viet Nam.
He hoped the business firms of the two countries would discuss specific cooperation opportunities at the forum, especially when the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership had been signed with Viet Nam and New Zealand as members.
Damien O’Connor, New Zealand’s Minister of Agriculture, Biosecurity, Food Safety and Rural Communities, said New Zealand wanted to further deepen trade relations with Viet Nam and hoped the forum would benefit both the sides.
At the forum, Phuc answered many queries raised by New Zealand businesses regarding Viet Nam’s policies to improve the business climate and attract investment in infrastructure development.
Later, Phuc was present at the signing of agreements on bilateral cooperation in the fields of agriculture and education between the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and New Zealand Business Council. — VNS