Brussels (VNA) – A forum topromote trade cooperation between Vietnam and Belgium took place in Brussels onJune 28, as oneof the main economic events between the two countries held after a long hiatusdue to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trade Counselor inBelgium Tran Ngoc Quan briefed participants on theinvestment environment in Vietnam at the event during which potential and strengths of Belgianregions were introduced.
According to Ambassador Nguyen Van Thao, there remains great potential for Vietnam and Belgiumto expand their cooperation, especially in agriculture; green growth; seaportand logistics development and innovation.
The two countries should work closelyto create a favourable environment for the business community of both sides toexploit these potentials, he said.
Mariella Cantagalli , an expert fromthe Directorate General for Tradeof the EC, said the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has facilitated the exchange of trade and import-export between Vietnam and EUmember countries in general, and Belgium in particular.
Vietnam and Belgium has become strategicpartners in agriculture. The two-way trade reached a record of 3.6 billion EUR(nearly 3.8 billion USD) in 2021.
The trade in the January – May periodthis year hit over 2.1 billion USD, up over 40% year-on-year. Belgium is nowthe fifth largest trade partner of Vietnam in EU, while Vietnam is the secondbiggest partner of the European country in the ASEAN. By the end of May, Belgium had 81 valid projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital ofnearly 1.1 billion USD./.