Many business contracts were signed by Vietnamese and Czech companies at the Vietnam - Czech Republic Business Forum, including a contract to build a dockyard in Hai Phong City between PSJ Company (Czech Republic) and Vinalines Nosco Company (Vietnam), a memorandum of understanding on a project to build a ship repair facility in Phu My, Tan Thanh district, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province between PSJ Company and Vinalines Shipyard Company (Vietnam), and a protocol on ODA projects on transferring hydropower technologies between CREA Hydrogen & Energy Company (Czech Republic) and Hameco Company (Vietnam).
The forum was held while a Czech business delegation led by Mr Milan Hovorka, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, attended the second course of the inter-government committee on economic, commercial, scientific and technological cooperation between Vietnam and the Czech Republic. This is a chance for companies of both nations to seek, forge and expand business relations. The forum was held in Hanoi by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Czech Chamber of Commerce.
According to VCCI, Czech visitors are large companies operating in the fields of banking, construction, geology, mining, metallurgy, environment, energy, engineering, steel, security equipment, health services, biotechnology, chemicals, foodstuffs and textiles.
According to Mr Doan Duy Khuong, Vice President of VCCI, Vietnam - Czech Republic economic and trade relations have expanded consistently in recent years, with two-way trade turnover reaching some US$156 million in 2009, of which the Czech Republic exported US$36 million worth of goods to Vietnam, mainly vehicles, construction equipment, aircraft spare parts, consumer goods, apparel and leather goods, and electrical appliances, while Vietnam earned about US$120 million from exports to the Czech Republic, mainly agricultural products, seafood, garments, footwear, handicrafts and computer parts.
Mr Khuong said although trade and investment relations have grown steadily over the past years, the result, particularly the trade turnover, is not up to the full demand of the two countries’ economies. With flexible economic mechanisms, Vietnam can serve as a link for Czech goods to enter the ASEAN market, while the latter can be an important partner and a gateway for Vietnamese goods to penetrate the European Union. "We hope this visit will be another step toward strengthening the multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and the Czech Republic, materializing the commitments of the two governments to promote bilateral economic and commercial relations," Mr Khuong said.
Mr Milan Hovorka, Czech Republic Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, said Vietnam and the Czech Republic have a strong relationship. The Czech Republic sees Vietnam as a prioritised partner in economic and commercial development ties. Mr Hovorka hopes, with the support of the two governments, the Vietnamese and Czech business communities will further promote cooperation and investment in the future.
Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Le Danh Vinh, added that the economies of Vietnam and the Czech Republic have their own strengths and can complement and support each other. The Czech Republic holds many competitive advantages in manufacturing, food processing, information technology and mining, while Vietnam’s strengths are a ‘golden population structure’ for agricultural production and labour-intensive production. Deputy Minister Vinh urged companies of the two nations to strengthen cooperation for mutual benefit, and affirmed that the Vietnamese Government was willing to create all necessary conditions for companies of both sides to carry out investment and business cooperation projects.
In the past time, the two sides have signed cooperation projects worth US$3.5 billion in total, mainly in thermal power, cement manufacturing and ship repair.
Mr Vinh also recommended the two sides regularly exchange information and seal more contracts for mutual benefit.
Mai Ngoc
Vietnamese
