Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) –The Hanoi Promotion Agency hosted a workshop in Hanoi on May 15 to provideinformation on the Czech Republic for local firms who wish to access theEuropean market.
Speaking at theworkshop, David Jakulisch from the Czech Embassy in Vietnam, said the CzechRepublic lies in the heart of Europe and has developed transportinfrastructure. The Czech government facilitates transparent foreign investmentwith skilled workers, he noted.
Vietnam mostly shipsfootwear, clothing, seafood, industrial machinery and electronic devices to theEuropean nation, while importing machinery and steel-made products.
By mid-2016, therewere 30 Czech investors in Vietnam who poured more than 170 million USD intolocal projects, making the Czech Republic the 40th largest out of150 foreign investors in Vietnam. Two-way trade between the two countries isestimated at 1 billion USD.
However, barriersremain for made-in-Vietnam products to penetrate the Czech market, Tran DinhHiep from the Ministry of Trade and Industry said, citing the fact that mostVietnamese exports to the country face fierce competition from the EU, China,Thailand, Turkey and the Republic of Korea as Vietnamese goods are lesscompetitive in pricing, design, and quality.
The Czech businesscommunity is finding solutions to allow more made-in-Vietnam goods to enter themarket as well as for Vietnam to lure more foreign investment and technologytransfer, he added.
Meanwhile, Le ThiNhan from Vietnam-based tour operator Haseco Travel said the Czech Embassy doesnot provide visa services in Vietnam so the company’s clients are forced toapply for visas through the French embassy.
A representativefrom the Czech Embassy said it acknowledged the problems and will introducemore support for Vietnamese travellers soon. He suggested that Vietnamesenationals who live in HCM City can also apply for Czech visas through theEmbassy of Hungary.-VNA
VNA
