Bavarian Minister-President Dr. Edmund Stoiber paid a working visit to Vietnam March 27-30, and was very impressive with and confident about Vietnam in the Doi Moi era.
Dr. Edmund Stoiber, the minister-president of Bayern State, head of a senior economic delegation and deputy of renowned Bavarian universities, was very impressed by the warm hospitability of the Vietnamese people. “This is my first visit to Vietnam, and I was warmly welcomed by the hosts. It was an interesting surprise for us,” he said.
“I had the great honour to place a wreath at the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and this made me think of my days at Munich University 35 years ago when I heard the Ho Chi Minh - Ho Chi Minh chorus everywhere,” he recalled.
The meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, as well as talks with Minister of Education and Training, Minister of Planning and Investment, and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in some ways surprised him. “At those meetings, we mainly discussed the economic development orientation, and we realised that Vietnamese leaders had new and modern thoughts for developing the country. Like China, Vietnam has an opening economy.”
He was impressed when the Prime Minister introduced the three key development tasks for the coming year, not only increasing economic growth and reducing poverty, but also paying attention to the environment. “I was amazed when I heard the three development tasks included environmental issues. This proves that Vietnam is pursuing a very responsible method of development,” Dr. Stoiber commented.
“At international forums so far, developing nations like Vietnam are always fearful that economic development will negatively impact the environment, and if the environment is strongly protected then economic growth will be slowed down,” he added.
“I can feel big business opportunities. I will help our environment technology companies to do business in Vietnam,” he pledged.
He also committed to do what he can to help Vietnam access German ODA capital sources to build subways in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. At the same time, he encouraged economic groups and universities in the State of Bavaria to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam. Regarding Vietnamese investment attraction policies, Dr. Edmund was excited by the statement from Vietnamese Minister of Education and Training, “If you want to invest in Vietnam, you have full freedom to decide the scope, size and intensity of investment, and the Vietnamese Government's complete support.”
“After only half an hour sightseeing along Hanoi’s roads, I can see the huge potential in Vietnam. Vietnam now has a population of 85 million people and will have 100 million people in 2015. The population is young, with some 70 per cent under age 35. This is a big potential. Thousands of young people are riding motorbikes through the streets, and they will use cars in the next 10 years. Certainly, the car market will be developed. If we want to satisfy that future market, we must upgrade our environment. Here, I see business opportunities.”
He was very energetic in discussions with the Minister of Education and Training. “The Minister spoke German to me fluently. He made the comparison; the money paid for two glasses of beer in Germany is enough for one-month of study in Vietnam.” He expressed special concern about strengthening the teacher workforce in Vietnam. “Vietnam has 1.4 million tertiary students, but only 50,000 lecturers for this level. This is a challenge for Vietnam. We are very proud of working with four rectors from German universities, who agree to enrol 1,000 Vietnamese students to study in Germany for a year.”
Box: Vietnam and Germany posted bilateral trade revenues of US$2 billion in 2006, including nearly US$350 million from Bayern State. To date, Vietnam has attracted some 70 projects worth US$400 million from Germany. Each year, the Dutch Government grants US$40 million ODA capital for infrastructure, education and training development in Vietnam
Thu Huyen
Vietnamese
