A business group from the Austrian state of Styria has expressed their interest in investing in HCM City.
In a meeting with HCM City government agencies this week, Barbara Eibinger-Miedl, Styria Minister of Economy, Tourism, Science and Research, said that Viet Nam, and HCM City in particular, was an interesting partner when it comes to trading and investment.
With the benefits of free trade, both countries could create new opportunities for each other in various sectors, such as environmental technology, energy resources, tourism and automation.
Cao Thi Phi Van, deputy director of the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC), said HCM City was also a great gateway for Austrian investors.
The city government and companies could offer a wide range of trade and investment models and was also Viet Nam's biggest exporting city.
The location of the city could also help them branch out into other Southeast Asian markets because the city is at the centre of the region.
“ITPC will assist Styria companies with all of the processes relating to investing and collaborating with HCM City companies,” Van said.
HCM City advertised its main investment projects to the Styria business group, such as the Can Tho Bridge, Ring Road No.4 and Urban Railway Project No. 3A-phase 1.
Meanwhile, Styria highlighted their strongest sectors, which are automation, energy and environment, and mobility, with worldwide renown companies, such as Doppelmayr, Danubia Wood, and Llynx Electronics.
Companies from both countries exchange information and establish relationships in the B2B conference. — Photo VNS Photo Thuy Dan
Dietmar Schwank, Austria Commercial Counsellor in HCM City, said that Viet Nam was Austria's biggest trade partner in ASEAN and had always been one of the largest importers of Austrian goods in Asia.
Therefore, the Austrian government wanted to bolster this relationship and become a world class partner of Viet Nam as well as tighten the bilateral ties that are already in existence.
Speakers from both countries also gave insights about the advantages and disadvantages of each country to give a more detailed outlook into the current situation.
At the end of the forum, companies from both countries had the chance to meet with each other in a B2B conference to give out information and establish relationships with one another.
The Styria and HCM City Economics Forum was organised as a part of the 50th anniversary celebration of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Austria.
Austria currently is the 35th biggest investor in Viet Nam and has more than 2,000 businesses that are partners with the Vietnamese government and companies. — VNS