Ireland is willing to share experiences and invest in construction projects in Vietnam , the Irish ambassador to Vietnam , Maeve Collins has said.

At the Vietnam-Ireland Business Forum held in Hanoi on February 24, Ambassador Collins said that this third forum is part of the Irish Aid Development Experience and Sharing programme (IDEAS) to Vietnam, confirming that Ireland will continue to develop the programme and consider it an important part of its bilateral cooperation strategy with Vietnam over the next five years.

The diplomat also said that she expected more cooperation programmes with Vietnam in the future and hoped to see links between Vietnamese and Irish businesses develop further.

The General Secretary of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), Pham Gia Tuc, praised the level of Irish aid to Vietnam in economic analysis and forecasting and called upon businesses from both countries to step up investment and trade ties for the benefit of both sides.

By November 2011, with six projects in Vietnam focusing on services, restaurants and the production of sporting equipment totalling 5.6 million USD, Ireland ranks 70 amongst the 93 countries and territories that currently invest in Vietnam./.