HCM City steps up investment ties with Cuba

HCM City (VNA) – Nguyen Thanh Phong, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, and visiting Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz discussed ways to promote investment ties between the Vietnamese southern metropolis and Cuba, during their meeting on September 13.

Phong rejoiced at the fruitful development of the Vietnam-Cuba special friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation.

Vietnamese, including residents in HCM City, always treasure the deep sentiments and valuable support from Cuban people to Vietnam during the hard time, the official said. 

He praised the initiative on organising the seminar on cooperation and business opportunities in Cuba that was held in HCM City earlier the same day, saying the event has helped local enterprises access information about the business environment in the Caribbean nation as well as its incentives for investors.

Phong used the occasion to call on the Cuban ministry to facilitate the investment of Vietnamese businesses, including those from HCM City.

The municipal leader expressed his hope for stronger cooperation between the two sides and pledged that the southern hub will make all-out efforts to promote the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Cuba.

For his part, the Cuban minister informed his host of the outcomes of the freshly-concluded 37th meeting of the Vietnam-Cuba Inter-Governmental Committee in Hanoi.

He said trade between Vietnam and Cuba expanded 25 percent over the past time, and Vietnam’s investment projects in Cuba have been materialized, with two projects on agriculture and food processing making progress.

Cuban doctors have also been sent to Vietnam under their agreement, the minister added.

However, the results have yet to match potential of the two countries, he said, expressing hope that the bilateral economic links will further develop on par with their fruitful political relations.

Cuba commits to well implementing agreements signed with Vietnamese businesses, and wishes that more Cuban goods will be exported to the Southeast Asian nation to ensure the trade balance.

The minister lauded HCM City’s dynamic development and suggested municipal leaders facilitate Cuban businesses’ investment and technological transfer in the city’s high-tech zone.

Cuba welcomes and will create the best possible conditions for enterprises from Vietnam and HCM City to attend the international trade fair to be held in the country in November, he stressed./.