Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue (R) and Nike Vice President Chris Helzer (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The VietnameseGovernment is willing to create favourable conditions for Nike to operate inthe long run in Vietnam, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue said whilereceiving Nike Vice President Chris Helzer in Hanoi on December 17.
He added that the Government is intensifyingadministrative reform and other efforts to improve business investmentenvironment and facilitate business development for foreign investors,especially those from the US.
The Government has submitted to the Politburofor approval a project on increasing the efficiency of foreign investmentattraction, Hue said, adding that Vietnam is institutionalising this issue byamending the Law on Investment and Law on Enterprises.
The Deputy PM hoped Nike will expand the list ofraw materials sourced from Vietnam, increase the local content of its products,and help Vietnamese businesses improve capacity to join the group’s supplychains.
He affirmed that Vietnam does not pursuepolicies on trade surplus with the US and monetary manipulation. In fact, thecountry is trying to buy more made-in-US products to balance bilateral trade,he said.
Hue told his guest that 2020 will be animportant year, and suggested the group have initiatives to mark this year suchas providing exclusive products for the SEA Games 31 to be hosted in Vietnam.
For his part, Chris Helzer said Nike’s factoryin Vietnam is the largest and most important of its kind worldwide.
Besides business operation, Nike also paysattention to social activities and has coordinated with some schools in Vietnamto implement programmes developing sport and outdoor activities for Vietnamesechildren, he said.
Helzer made some proposals relating to cooperationwith Vietnamese partners in high-tech human resources training to serve Nike’sfactory in Vietnam, and favourable conditions for the group to sign contracts onthe use of renewable energy in line with its policy of switching toenvironmentally friendly energy.
He also asked the Vietnamese National Assemblyto early ratify the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA)./.
VNA
