Being one of Germany’s important partners in the region brings Vietnam a chance to play the first-ever host of the Asia-Pacific Conference of German businesses (APK) 2014.

It will take place in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s most bustling economic hub on November 21-22, 2014.

German enterprises see APK as their most important meeting where they make exchanges and promote trade with regional firms, economic experts, and politicians, said the German Industry and Commerce Vietnam (GIC).

According to the GIC, Vietnam’s robust economic growth posted in recent years has drawn much attention from German businesses.

Last year, Vietnam’s exports to Germany increased 9.9 percent while its imports from the western country were up 27.7 percent.

The event will offer opportunities for Vietnamese businesses to work with German peers to figure out ways to increase the two countries’ bilateral trade and seek investment partnerships.

APK will be co-organised by the Worldwide Network of German Chambers of Commerce (AHKs), the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business, and the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi).

The large-scale biennial APK was first held in 1986. The last APK took place in India, drawing the participation of more than 730 senior officials from Asian-Pacific countries.-VNA