Enterprises from the Philippines are looking for opportunities to meet with Vietnamese partners to expand connections across food processing, cosmetics, hotels and construction.

Sanchez Dannilo, Vice President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry- National Capital Region (PCCI-NCR), expressed the wish as he led a Philippine business delegation to a meeting with Vietnamese firms in Ho Chi Minh City on April 9.

Nguyen The Hung, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)’s Ho Chi Minh City branch briefed the Philippine delegation on the city’s policies to attract foreign investment and enlarge import-export activities. He also highlighted that two sides have opportunities to bolster cooperation in food, farm produce, fertilizer and education.

Vietnam has enjoyed a trade surplus with the Philippines since 2008. Major exports include rice, consumer goods, food products and seafood while fertilizers and electronic equipment are its primary imports from the Philippines.

Trade in 2014 was 2.8 billion USD; the two countries are working to lift it to 3 billion USD this year.-VNA