On March 23 and 24, 2009, VCCI and Spanish Embassy in Hanoi organized a meeting between Vietnamese and Spanish partners sponsored by Multilateral Fund. The event initiated business and investment opportunities for two business communities to participate in biddings and projects in Vietnam or in third countries.
The meeting drew many Vietnamese businesses and nearly 30 leading Spanish companies of high technology in various fields such as infrastructure, environment, water conservancy, waste treatment, energy ( electric generation, transmission and distribution, oil and gas, renewable energy, energy saving).
VCCI Standing Vice President Hoang Van Dung said that Vietnam and Spain have great potentials for cooperation in trade and investment and Vietnamese government will create favourable conditions for Spanish investors in Vietnam.
According to statistics, in recent years, the bilateral trade has increased strongly on average of 20 % a year. In 2010, an important milestone is expected in bilateral trade. Presently attractive sectors for Spanish investors are agriculture-forestry-fisheries processing, tourism, transport, highways, and construction. VCCI stands ready to help concerned organizations to develop business cooperation between the two countries, Mr. Dung reaffirmed.
At the meeting, foreign organizations have also highly evaluated the present development, in spite of the fact that Vietnam is facing three challenges: infrastructure, environment and climate change. Those are also the areas that Vietnam needs big investments and will accelerate the economic growth rates in Vietnam.
Ms Setsuko Yamazaki, UNDP representative in Vietnam said that to ensure sustainable development, Vietnam should increase quality and sustainability to deal with challenges of the market. Vietnam should set orientation for energy development and invest more on renewable energy, especially on international cooperation against climate change. It is hoped that each government, organization and investor would join hands to meet this challenge in Vietnam, Ms Setsuko Yamazaki emphasized.
For her part, Ms Victoria Kwakwa, WB Director in Vietnam, said that Vietnam is facing challenges in infrastructure and finance. Vietnam can learn creatively from other countries, especially Spain to settle those problems. The exchanges between businesses of the two countries in this meeting will be the launching pad for future cooperation.
Mr. Fernando Curcio Ruigomez, Spanish Ambassador to Vietnam said that, Vietnam is being affected by climate change; therefore Vietnam should improve the infrastructure, especially roads, railways. Vietnam has many things to do on energy and transport. Those are areas that foreign companies can invest in Vietnam.
Mr. Sean Doyle, Ambassador of EU Mission said that there are many opportunities open for Vietnam. Therefore, Vietnam should increase competitiveness when integrating into the world economy. There are many EU projects supporting Vietnam in improving business environment, infrastructure and other sectors. Vietnam is fully capable of receiving and cooperating with investors in the years to come.
Mr. Nguyen Hong Truong, Vice Minister of Communication and Transport said that currently Vietnam has some projects with Spanish partners in railways and maritime transport. To increase cooperation in those fields, MOU on infrastructure development is being considered by the two sides. It is hopeful that the MOU will be signed to open up the cooperation between Vietnam and Spain in near future.
Quynh Chi
Vietnamese
