Vietnam, Colombia Seek to Strengthen Business Cooperation

President of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Pham Tan Cong recently hosted a working meeting with Colombian Ambassador Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Melo.

He highly appreciated Vietnam-Colombia growing friendship and cooperation in many fields but admitted that it is still below potential and there is vast room for development. Vietnam is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Colombia is a member of the Pacific Alliance (AP), a Latin American trade bloc, Mr. Cong added, saying that the two countries can, therefore, serve as a bridge for cooperation and connection with other members of these two trade blocs. VCCI President Cong also congratulated Colombia on successfully taking on the rotational chairmanship of the Pacific Alliance and Prosur.

At the meeting, Ambassador Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Melo said that Colombia is actively looking for trade opportunities, increasing the presence of its goods in the Vietnamese market such as furniture, chemicals, leather, pork and beef. Colombia has experienced a complicated Covid-19 pandemic period and entered the economic recovery and growth, with the GDP expanding by over 10% in 2021. At present, Colombia is fully open, well-positioned for its goods to be exported via waterways, roadways and airways.

On international cooperation, Colombia signed 17 trade agreements (FTAs), including those with Singapore and South Korea, thus opening up convenient trade opportunities with ASEAN and Asian countries. Currently, Colombia has worked with many Vietnamese agencies to foster cooperation policies and develop economic relations in the coming time. In 2020, the Bogota Chamber of Commerce and VCCI signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to create a premise for mutual support and coordination.

“We not only boost merchandise export to Vietnam but also want to find opportunities for Colombian businesses to visit and learn about the Vietnamese market and increase Vietnamese imports for Colombia. Therefore, we look forward to receiving VCCI support to accomplish these goals,” the Ambassador suggested.

Concurring with the proposal by Ambassador Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Melo, VCCI President Cong hopes that the cooperation will be effective. “Vietnamese companies do not really know much about Colombia’s market. I wish Colombia will provide more market information for Vietnamese businesses. The key is showing advantages and competitiveness of Colombian products over competitors as well as the logistical capacity of Colombian businesses to Vietnam”.

VCCI President Cong said, VCCI is the national representative of businesses in Vietnam, with over 220,000 member companies and over 200 member associations. VCCI has branches and chapters in many locations, supported by many experts. VCCI, the Embassy of Colombia in Vietnam and relevant agencies will jointly organize forums to promote and introduce potential capacity, facilitate businesses to meet each other, survey the market, seek business opportunities and deepen long-term cooperation ties in the coming time.

By Huong Ly, Vietnam Business Forum