Representatives from Vietnam ’s Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Republic of Korea ’s Ministry of Knowledge Economy met in Ho Chi Minh City on June 6 to discuss ways of improving the investment environment and boosting trade between the two countries.

Over the past 20 years, the Republic of Korea has been the second biggest foreign direct investor in Vietnam , with over 3,000 projects worth nearly 24 billion USD.

Almost half of them are in the processing and manufacturing industries, followed by real estate and a host of other sectors.

At present, Hanoi leads the nation in attracting FDI from the RoK. It is followed by HCM City and the southern provinces of Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Dong Nai.

However, in the first five months of this year the amount of FDI coming to Vietnam from the RoK has fallen to only 58 projects valued at 220 million USD.

At the meeting, a representative from the Republic of Korea Ministry said Vietnam can become a partner with a potential for development in the nuclear energy and supporting industries of the Republic of Korea .

The Vietnamese officials provided information about Vietnam ’s policy of strengthening the country’s macro-economy and the investment environment, as well as its new customs regulations that will be introduced later this year.-VNA