The workshop was jointly organised by the municipal People’s Committee, the NZ Embassy in Vietnam , the NZ Trade Commission and the joint ASEAN-NZ Business Council, attracting almost 40 firms from Da Nang and representatives from eight NZ companies operating in construction, food and beverages, civil aviation and food processing.
Graham Sims, NZ Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, stressed that one of the NZ trade Commission’s strategies in 2011 focused on investment for development in central Vietnam, particularly in Da Nang City, in civil aviation, food and beverages, construction and the plan to make the city clean and green by 2020.
NZ businesses are aware of the region’s potential and are impressed with the city’s growth in recent years, Sims added.
With a target of building Da Nang into one of the country’s big urban centres, socio-economic hubs in the central region, the municipal authorities have paid a lot of attention to attracting investment , business and making appropriate policies, creating favourable conditions for businesses, especially foreign firms to Da Nang, said Van Huu Chien, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee.
The workshop was a chance for the municipal leaders to introduce NZ firms to the city’s investment climate, socio-economic development and potential, incentives for foreign investment and regulations, he added.
It was also an opportunity for firms in Da Nang to meet and set up initial ties with potential partners from New Zealand .
Cooperation between Da Nang and New Zealand has been in mainly non-governmental assistance. However from July, 2004, New Zealand’s Global Voluntary Network (GVN) has sent volunteers from different countries to the city to take part in social activities such as caring for children in need, orphans and disabled children as well as teaching English./.
