More than 300 overseas Vietnamese (OV) businesses and diplomatic missions in Europe, as well as trade counselors from various countries in the region gathered in Rome, Italy for the eighth Vietnam Business Forum from August 22-24.

According to the head of the organising board of the business forum, Pham Van Hong the event aimed to draw orientation outline for Vietnamese business community in Europe to overcome challenges left by the regional financial and economic crisis.

Through various activities at the event, businesses had opportunities to meet and discuss measures to boost their stable and sustainable development, he said.

At the same time, they also shared experience in grasping opportunities for expanding their operations in European countries, said Hong.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Nguyen Hoang Long said supporting the stronger connectivity of the Vietnamese business community abroad is one of the country’s focuses.

He said he hopes the development of OV businesses in the region will help promote Vietnam’s trademarks and fuel economic growth at home.

The event took place in a context where the European economy is experiencing a recession, which dramatically affected the operation of Vietnamese business community there.

Hoang Manh Hue, a businessman from Poland , pointed to the need for the Vietnamese business community to further consolidate their solidarity in the context of the gloomy global economy.

Participants at the event also voiced difficulties facing them currently, including the tension in the Russia-Ukraine relations, as well as a poor linkage among Vietnamese business community abroad.

They also discussed opportunities and challenges generated by the Vietnam-EU free trade agreement, which is expected to be reached within this year.

The next forum is slated to be held in Bulgaria next year.-VNA