"Iran has set a new vision which focuses on Asia and especially ASEANwhile Vietnam is a member of this regional organisation. Iranian leadersalso pay special attention to Vietnam and its achievements in nationaldevelopment. It is proposed that Iran and Vietnam can be two wings ofthe economic-political belt in Asia which can be a gateway for expansionof trade and distribution of goods for each other,” said HosseinAlvandi Behineh, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Vietnam,in an interview with Vietnam Business Forum.
* Could you please tell us about highlights in the cooperation between the two countries?
First of all, I would like to express my deepest thanks to VietnamBusiness Forum Magazine of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry(VCCI) for kindly interviewing me on the occasion of the summit on thecooperation between Vietnam, the Middle East and North Africa on 4-5November, 2013. Also, I would like to appreciate Vietnam Government’sefforts in organizing such a significant event to further boost andtighten the cooperation between Vietnam, the Middle East and NorthAfrica.
As we know, Iran - Vietnam relationship hasexperienced a forty-year path. We have successfully celebrated the 40thanniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations betweenVietnam and Iran in 2013. In the past four decades, both countries haveenjoyed a close cooperation and cordial traditional ties based on mutualrespect and understanding. Exchange of many high-ranking visits hastaken place so far and a great number of agreements, memoranda ofunderstanding have been signed to strengthen our bilateral relationswhich reflect the desire of the leaders and peoples of our twocountries.
Recently, official visits of Mr.Ahmadinejad, ex- Iranian president, Tehran’s Mayor and Minister ofIndustry, Mine and Trade to Vietnam, and reciprocally visits of theForeign Minister and Deputy Foreign Minister and the Chairman of theNational Defense and Security Committee of National Assembly of Vietnamto Iran have been taken place. Presidents of two countries in themeeting in Hanoi in 2012 and recently by exchanging of lettersemphasised the desire and determination to promote the bilateralrelationship and cooperation on the different areas such as culture,politics, education, economy, commerce, investment…
About economy and trade, we organised successfully the 8th JointCommission for Economy and Trade in Hanoi in 2013 and recently theEmbassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Vietnam Chamber ofCommerce and Industry, Ho Chi Minh City branch organised successfullythe Iran-Vietnam Business Meeting, the third meeting of the twocountries’ business community.
In 2010, the tradevolume between Iran and Vietnam reached 144 million USD, in 2011: 186million USD and in 2012: 316 million USD. These figures have reflectedyear-on-year increase in trade cooperation but the two sides will striveto increase bilateral trade turnover to a higher level of 1 billion USDper year in the coming years.
About cultural andeducational cooperation, until now, Iran Government has been presenting alot of scholarships to Vietnamese students and an Iranian student hascome to Vietnam for a Vietnamese language course. A Persian languagecourse has been also organised in VNU – University of Social Sciencesand Humanities for two years. Iran and Vietnam’s literature books havebeen translated into Vietnamese and Persian languages. In 2013 anIranian traditional music group had performances in Hanoi on theoccasion of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between twocountries.
* Would you please tell us the prospectfor the relationship between the two countries and development ofcooperation of the business communities of the two sides?
Iran has its pivotal geographical location in the Middle East, withGDP of 485 billion USD, approximate foreign trade volume of 200 billionUSD per year and population of 78 million. As a member of ECO, we canprovide an easy access for Vietnamese products to the Middle East,Central Asian and CIS countries with a market of over 300 million peoplein 15 neighboring countries.
On the other side,Vietnam is also a potential market for Iranian companies to establishtheir business here thanks to its strategic geographical location andbeing a member of ASEAN in the South East Asia with over 750 millionpeople while the country has GDP of 141 billion USD, foreign tradevolume of over 250 billion USD and population of 90 million.
Iran has set a new vision which focuses on Asia and especially ASEANwhile Vietnam is a member of this regional organisation. Iranian leadersalso pay special attention to Vietnam and its achievements in nationaldevelopment. It is proposed that Iran and Vietnam can be two wings ofthe economic-political belt in Asia which can be a gateway for expansionof trade and distribution of goods for each other. There is no doubtthat the existing similarities, deep friendship in the past can be theengine for new cooperation between the two countries. With the policy ofsupporting expansion of relations through private sector, Iran invitesVietnamese businessmen to come to Iran for business visit andparticipation in exhibition, trade fairs and etc.
The business communities of the two countries explore definitely thepotentials on the different business arenas. Iran can export productssuch as oil, gas, petrochemicals, chemicals, building materials,pharmaceuticals, dried fruits and industrial products to Vietnam marketand Vietnam can export agricultural (5 percent broken rice, tea, coffee,pepper) fishery, garments (clothes and footwear), textiles, cashewnuts, wood, rattan and bamboo, sport shoes, hand phone, motorbike spareparts and bicycle and natural rubber products to Iran market.
Regarding geopolitical and strategic position of the two markets, thebusiness communities of the two sides can absolutely use the availablebusiness opportunities.
* What areas do you think Iran can invest successfully in Vietnam and vice versa?
Regarding Iran’s potentials, Iran is finding the investmentopportunities in the areas of technology, new technology, Nano –technology, energy, IT, petrochemicals, oil industry, refinery,construction and automotive parts, medical technology and pharmacysciences, etc.
Also, Vietnam can invest successfullyin Iran in the areas such as refinery, oil exploration and operation,agriculture, fishing, rubber, footwear and agricultural machinery, etc.-VNA
* Could you please tell us about highlights in the cooperation between the two countries?
First of all, I would like to express my deepest thanks to VietnamBusiness Forum Magazine of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry(VCCI) for kindly interviewing me on the occasion of the summit on thecooperation between Vietnam, the Middle East and North Africa on 4-5November, 2013. Also, I would like to appreciate Vietnam Government’sefforts in organizing such a significant event to further boost andtighten the cooperation between Vietnam, the Middle East and NorthAfrica.
As we know, Iran - Vietnam relationship hasexperienced a forty-year path. We have successfully celebrated the 40thanniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations betweenVietnam and Iran in 2013. In the past four decades, both countries haveenjoyed a close cooperation and cordial traditional ties based on mutualrespect and understanding. Exchange of many high-ranking visits hastaken place so far and a great number of agreements, memoranda ofunderstanding have been signed to strengthen our bilateral relationswhich reflect the desire of the leaders and peoples of our twocountries.
Recently, official visits of Mr.Ahmadinejad, ex- Iranian president, Tehran’s Mayor and Minister ofIndustry, Mine and Trade to Vietnam, and reciprocally visits of theForeign Minister and Deputy Foreign Minister and the Chairman of theNational Defense and Security Committee of National Assembly of Vietnamto Iran have been taken place. Presidents of two countries in themeeting in Hanoi in 2012 and recently by exchanging of lettersemphasised the desire and determination to promote the bilateralrelationship and cooperation on the different areas such as culture,politics, education, economy, commerce, investment…
About economy and trade, we organised successfully the 8th JointCommission for Economy and Trade in Hanoi in 2013 and recently theEmbassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Vietnam Chamber ofCommerce and Industry, Ho Chi Minh City branch organised successfullythe Iran-Vietnam Business Meeting, the third meeting of the twocountries’ business community.
In 2010, the tradevolume between Iran and Vietnam reached 144 million USD, in 2011: 186million USD and in 2012: 316 million USD. These figures have reflectedyear-on-year increase in trade cooperation but the two sides will striveto increase bilateral trade turnover to a higher level of 1 billion USDper year in the coming years.
About cultural andeducational cooperation, until now, Iran Government has been presenting alot of scholarships to Vietnamese students and an Iranian student hascome to Vietnam for a Vietnamese language course. A Persian languagecourse has been also organised in VNU – University of Social Sciencesand Humanities for two years. Iran and Vietnam’s literature books havebeen translated into Vietnamese and Persian languages. In 2013 anIranian traditional music group had performances in Hanoi on theoccasion of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between twocountries.
* Would you please tell us the prospectfor the relationship between the two countries and development ofcooperation of the business communities of the two sides?
Iran has its pivotal geographical location in the Middle East, withGDP of 485 billion USD, approximate foreign trade volume of 200 billionUSD per year and population of 78 million. As a member of ECO, we canprovide an easy access for Vietnamese products to the Middle East,Central Asian and CIS countries with a market of over 300 million peoplein 15 neighboring countries.
On the other side,Vietnam is also a potential market for Iranian companies to establishtheir business here thanks to its strategic geographical location andbeing a member of ASEAN in the South East Asia with over 750 millionpeople while the country has GDP of 141 billion USD, foreign tradevolume of over 250 billion USD and population of 90 million.
Iran has set a new vision which focuses on Asia and especially ASEANwhile Vietnam is a member of this regional organisation. Iranian leadersalso pay special attention to Vietnam and its achievements in nationaldevelopment. It is proposed that Iran and Vietnam can be two wings ofthe economic-political belt in Asia which can be a gateway for expansionof trade and distribution of goods for each other. There is no doubtthat the existing similarities, deep friendship in the past can be theengine for new cooperation between the two countries. With the policy ofsupporting expansion of relations through private sector, Iran invitesVietnamese businessmen to come to Iran for business visit andparticipation in exhibition, trade fairs and etc.
The business communities of the two countries explore definitely thepotentials on the different business arenas. Iran can export productssuch as oil, gas, petrochemicals, chemicals, building materials,pharmaceuticals, dried fruits and industrial products to Vietnam marketand Vietnam can export agricultural (5 percent broken rice, tea, coffee,pepper) fishery, garments (clothes and footwear), textiles, cashewnuts, wood, rattan and bamboo, sport shoes, hand phone, motorbike spareparts and bicycle and natural rubber products to Iran market.
Regarding geopolitical and strategic position of the two markets, thebusiness communities of the two sides can absolutely use the availablebusiness opportunities.
* What areas do you think Iran can invest successfully in Vietnam and vice versa?
Regarding Iran’s potentials, Iran is finding the investmentopportunities in the areas of technology, new technology, Nano –technology, energy, IT, petrochemicals, oil industry, refinery,construction and automotive parts, medical technology and pharmacysciences, etc.
Also, Vietnam can invest successfullyin Iran in the areas such as refinery, oil exploration and operation,agriculture, fishing, rubber, footwear and agricultural machinery, etc.-VNA
