Representatives from 30 leading Indian enterprises attended a Vietnam-India trade seminar in Ho Chi Minh City on Nov. 9 to strengthen investment and trade relations between the two countries.

The Indian delegation, which includes enterprises operating in finance, mechanical engineering, energy, machinery, wood decoration, cosmetics, functional food, agriculture and education, expected to seek raw material and construction material providers as well as cooperative opportunities with Vietnamese retailers, wholesalers, importers and exporters.

Representative of Sylvester Company, Mark S. Fernandes said his company is looking for seafood providers to export 100-200 tonnes per month to India , alongside cooperating with Vietnamese businesses in transportation, investment and seaport development.

Deputy Secretary General of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vo Tan Thanh said Vietnam and India have seen recent developments in trade and investment.

India has become one of the Vietnam ’s leading export markets, importing key staples such as coal, black pepper, electronic components, rubber and footwear. The two countries are making efforts to reduce Vietnam ’s trade deficit and increase two-way trade value.

In the first ten months of 2011, Vietnam-India two-way trade value reached nearly 3 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 40 percent./.