Measures sought to boost Vietnam-Egypt economic cooperation

Cairo (VNA) – The Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt, in collaboration with the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, held a workshop on economic and trade potential between the two countries on December 17, aiming at paving the way for both countries’ businesses to fully tap their potential.

At the event, local businesses showed their interest in Vietnam’s farm produce, including cashew nuts, pepper and coffee, as well as electronic products and computer components.

As Alexandria is a famous port city, its enterprises wanted to cooperate with Vietnam in maritime transportation and logistics.

Nguyen Duy Hung, First Secretary at the Vietnamese Embassy, delivered a speech on the potential for economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

He also answered Egyptian firms’ questions on Vietnam’s policies and incentives.

Deputy head of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce Ahmed Hassan suggested the two nations intensify collaboration in logistics, aquaculture, agriculture and garment and textiles.

Along with bilateral cooperation, they can switch to a tripartite cooperation model, which uses materials and spare parts from Vietnam to make products in the Suez Canal Economic Zone for export to third countries, said Hassan.

Egypt wants to expand the export of cotton and fresh fruits to Vietnam, he stated, proposing Vietnamese businesses export IT software and hardware, mobile phones and spare parts to his country.

Earlier, within the framework of his working visit to Alexandria – the second largest city of Egypt, Vietnamese Ambassador Tran Thanh Cong met with the city’s Governor Mohammed Taher El-Sherif, during which they shared the view that bilateral trade cooperation still fails to match existing potential.

They expressed hope for promoting collaboration in numerous fields through the opening of a direct air route between the two countries and the twinning between Alexandria and a Vietnamese locality.

They also stressed the need to speed up the organisation of activities, forums and seminars to connect both sides’ enterprises.

The Vietnamese working delegation also worked with the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce to discuss measures to boost two-way trade amidst the COVID-19 pandemic./.