HCM City (VNA) – TheTrade Office of the Austrian Embassy made its debut in Ho Chi Minh on May 16,expected to help connect business communities of Vietnam and Austria in thefuture.
Addressing the opening ceremony,Harald Mahrer, President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, said that HCM Cityis an ideal destination for investment in Southeast Asia. Therefore, the numberof Austrian firms seeking partnership opportunities in the city is rising, hesaid.
Mahrersaid that the office aims to provide accurate and full information about theVietnamese market to Austrian companies, while linking them with theirVietnamese peers and authorised agencies.
Henoted that HCM City is developing impressively, becoming an attractive businessdestination, adding that the establishment of the office shows Austria’sinterest in investing in the city and Vietnam as a whole.
NguyenThe Hung, Vice Director of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry(VCCI)’s HCM City Branch, said that the Vietnam-Austria economic-tradecooperation has developed positively over the years.
Vietnamis currently the biggest trade partner of Austria in the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN), while Austria is now the 6th largest trade partner of Vietnam in the European Union, with two-way tradereaching 4.3 billion USD in 2018.
InHCM City, Austria is now the fourth biggest foreign investor with totalinvestment of 41 million USD, he noted, adding that the results have yet tomatch the potential of both sides.
Hungsaid that Austrian firms are strong in high technology and innovation, whileHCM City is building a smart city and strengthening renovation. Thus, thepartnership opportunities between the two sides are abundant, he said.
Thesetting up of the Trade Office of the Austrian Embassy in HCM City will enableboth sides to increase information sharing and foster collaboration inimplementing investment projects, he added.
DietmarSchwank, Austrian Trade Councilor in Vietnam who manages the office, showed hisbelief in HCM City’s growth in the future.
Hepledged that the office will carry out various Vietnam-Austria trade promotionand business connection activities, while popularising the potential andbusiness chances in HCM City to the business community of Austria, thusimproving two-way trade.-VNA
VNA
