Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc addresses the Czech Republic-Vietnam Business Forum in Prague on April 17 (Photo: VNA)Prague (VNA) – The Czech Republic-Vietnam BusinessForum was held in Prague on April 17 within the framework of Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc’s ongoing visit to the European country, drawingrepresentatives of more than 100 enterprises and investors of both sides.
Addressing the event,Jaroslav Hanak, President of the Czech Confederation of Industry and Transport,said that the country holds strengths in industry, science, and technology, andis willing to partner with Vietnam in these fields.
Czech Minister of Industryand Trade Marta Novakova highlighted the cooperation potential between the twosides in education-training, underlining the role of Vietnamese alumni whostudied in the Czech Republic as bridges between the two peoples.
She lauded the position andprestige of Vietnam in the region and the world, stating that the CzechRepublic supports the EU’s signing of the free trade agreement with Vietnam(EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).
She also suggested a number cooperationareas that the Czech Republic has advantages in, such as the automobileindustry and crystal production, while expressing hopes to increase exports toVietnam.
At the event, Czech PrimeMinister Andrej Babis underscored the contributions by the Vietnamese communityto socio-economic development in the European country and the growth ofbilateral partnership.
He expressed his delight atthe expanding bilateral relationship, adding that he hopes the EVFTA will besigned before the upcoming European Council election, thus opening up morechances for EU and Czech Republic enterprises to soon increase trade andinvestment partnerships with Vietnam.
The Czech PM proposed thatbusiness communities of both sides strengthen import-export activities betweenthe two countries, affirming that the two governments will create optimalconditions for the launching of a direct air route linking Hanoi and Prague in2019.
He said that leaders of thetwo countries discussed the simplification of procedures for granting visas forcitizens of both sides to visit each other’s countries.
He stressed that Vietnam isa huge and promising market for Czech firms to invest in and operate productionactivities.
For his part, Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc said he hopes that after the forum, businesses of both sideswill continue maintaining their connectivity and meetings to seek partnershipopportunities.
He added that Vietnamese andCzech firms should further promote partnership in broader areas, pledging that thetwo governments will back them in the work.
Noting that Vietnam and theCzech Republic’s economies are more supplementary than competitive, the VietnameseGovernment leader held that the bilateral partnership will grow with greaterefficiency in the future.
He said that Vietnam haspolitical and social stability, strong tropical agriculture, and a rapidlygrowing processing-manufacturing sector with wide export markets, adding thatthe local business environment has been much improved, drawing nearly 28,000FDI projects with a total capital of over 345 billion USD.
Vietnam ranked 77th out ofthe 137 countries on the global competitiveness index in 2018. In early Aprilof 2019, S&P Global raised the country’s sovereign rating to BB with astable outlook.
So far, Vietnam has signedand implemented 12 FTAs, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreementfor Trans-Pacific Partnership, said the PM, adding that Vietnam is working withthe EU to speed up the signing and ratification of the EVFTA, which is animportant foundation for the promotion of trade ties between Vietnam and theEU, including the Czech Republic.
Furthermore, Vietnam has a youngworkforce with a nearly-100-million-strong market, which is of great potentialfor investors and business from the Czech Republic to explore, he stated. –VNA
VNA
