Indonesian and Vietnamese businesses in a wide range of areas are gathering at a forum in Ho Chi Minh City on June 13 to update information on market and investment environment of each other side in a bid to boost bilateral trade ties.

Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Mayerfas said that the Vietnam-Indonesia investment, tourism and trade forum, the second of its kind held in Vietnam, shows both sides’ efforts in further fostering cooperation, bringing benefits for the two nations.

Vietnam is a nation that Indonesia is building comprehensive cooperative relations with and looking toward strategic ties in the 2012-2015 period, thus creating big steps in the two countries’ bilateral ties, the diplomat added.

Chairman of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vu Tien Loc said there have been investment opportunities waiting ahead for Vietnam and Indonesia to further boost trade ties.

Both business communities, therefore, should take a lead in diversifying joint trade promotion programmes, so that cooperative ties between the two sides’ small and medium sized enterprises will be elevated while broadening to other new fields, he added.

By May 2013, Indonesia ranks 27 th among 101 countries and territories investing in Vietnam , with 35 valid projects worth a total registered capital of over 285 million USD.

Indonesian firms are keen on injecting their money in fields such as manufacturing, processing, accommodation and health care services and social assistance which have made significant contribution to Vietnam’s socio-economic development.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese enterprises are operating seven projects with a total registered capital of 106.7 million USD in Indonesia , particularly in mining, oil and gas and communications.

The two countries have been witnessing a stable growth in bilateral trade ties. Indonesia is currently Vietnam ’s fourth biggest partner in the Southeast Asia with two-way trade jumping to 4.6 billion USD in 2012 from 2.5 billion USD in 2008.

Themed “Indonesia-Vietnam: Cooperation for Common Prosperity”, the two-day event, is coorganised by Indonesian Embassy in Vietnam in collaboration with Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.-VNA