The European Union Multilateral Trade Assistance Project (EU-MUTRAP) was launched by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the EU delegation in Vietnam on December 11, which is expected to raise the Vietnam-EU relationship to a new level.

Addressing the event, Head of the EU delegation Franz Jessen said the project is implemented in the context that the two sides have signed the Comprehensive Partnership Agreement (CPA) and just started negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA).

The main aims of EU-MUTRAP are to help Vietnam integrate further into the global trade system and strengthen the trade and investment relations between Vietnam and the EU.

EU-MUTRAP’s budget is 16.5 million EUR; 15 million EUR from EU and 1.5 million EUR from Vietnam .

The project, scheduled to complete in five years, will help Vietnam create favourable conditions for sustainable international trade and investment with the aid of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and other agencies.

Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang said EU-MUTRAP supports the use of technology to improve the environment, social issues, laws and investment and trade policies.

Both sides have committed to create favourable conditions for the project to succeed.-VNA