VCCI Vice President Vo Tan Thanh speaks at the forum (Source: VNA)Vietnam and the Czech Republic will strive for 1 billion USD in two-way trade in the near future, Vice President of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Vo Tan Thanh said on October 22.
The VCCI official addressed a forum for Vietnamese and Czech businesses to seek long-term business partnerships in Ho Chi Minh City.
The event was jointly organised by the VCCI office in Ho Chi Minh City (VCCI-HCMC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic.
Thanh, who is also VCCI-HCMC Director, spoke highly of the 65-year relations between Vietnam and the Czech Republic, saying that the two countries are expanding their cooperation in all fields, particularly trade and investment.
Two-way trade in the first two quarters of 2015 totalled 165 million USD and Vietnam mainly shipped to the partner footwear, seafood, textiles-garment, and chemical products, Thanh added.
He noted that the Czech Republic is among Vietnam’s strategic markets in 2010-2020 while Vietnam is listed in the European country’s top 12 potential markets.
The two nations agreed to bolster ties in education, security and defence and labour, Thanh said.
For his part, Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek stated he believes the two countries have yet fully tapped their potential for economic development.
He stressed that Vietnam offers a lot of opportunities for Czech investors as it boasts a developing market of over 90 million people and abundant natural resources.
Czech investors are operating 48 projects worth more than 100 million USD in Vietnam, and hope to continue receiving support from local authorities, he said.-VNA
