Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien speaks at the Vietnam - Belgium business forum in Brussels on December 1. (Photo: VNA) He affirmedconsistent assistance and the best possible conditions for Belgian firms to conductfruitful and sustainable investment, production, and business activities inVietnam.
Dienconsidered Belgian enterprises’ success as Vietnam’s, adding that the SoutheastAsian nation also hopes Belgian authorities will create conditions for its businessesto consider investment and carry out projects in the European country.
The enhancement of economic and trade ties within thebilateral framework as well as the ASEAN - EU framework will generate enormousbenefits for both countries, he said, adding Vietnam and Belgium hold much potential to continueexpanding bilateral trade as their export and import structures do not directlycompete with but are complementary to each other.
Thisis a favourable condition for the two countries’ enterprises to develop partnershipsand diversify supply chains, especially for the sectors matching one country’sstrength and the other’s demand, he went on.
In terms of investment, the minister noted that such comprehensive, practical,and effective cooperation mechanisms as the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA)and the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) will provideoptimal conditions for investors from Belgium as well as the EU to expand theirinvestment and business projects in Vietnam, particularly in the fields thatthe EU and Belgium are strong at and Vietnam has demand for like mechanicalengineering, processing - manufacturing, new materials, electronics, chemicals,hi-tech industries, renewable energy, and logistics.
The advantagesand opportunities in bilateral relations will create a crucial basis, further momentum,and confidence for both sides’ enterprises to scale up investment, production,and business activities in the future, Dien opined.
He added that the MoIT hopes Belgium will ratify the EVIPA soon, and Vietnamwelcomes more Belgian firms coming to invest in the country.
Addressing the forum, Nguyen Van Thao, Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium andhead of the Vietnamese delegation to the EU, stressed that Vietnam’s relationswith Belgium and the EU have been growing well as seen in recent mutual visits.There remains much room for Vietnam and Belgium to promote cooperation inmultiple spheres, especially seaport, renewable energy, and environment.
As Presidentof the Belgian - Vietnamese Alliance (BVA) and First Vice President of theBelgian Senate, Andries Gryffroy pledged utmost support for both sides’enterprises to enter each other’s markets, and that the BVA will helpVietnamese firms export to Belgium and the EU.
The BVA and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) signed amemorandum of understanding under which they will work together to bolsterbilateral economic, trade, and investment ties, Gryffroy said.
MariellaCantagalli, a senior expert at the Directorate-General for Trade at the EuropeanCommission, also highly valued the EU - Vietnam trade and investmentpartnerships, especially since the EVFTA officially came into force. She described the EVFTA as a driving force for Vietnam’s economic links with 27 EU membersand European enterprises.
On thesidelines of the forum, Minister Dien received leaders of British oil and gas companyPharos Energy and BVA President Gryffroy. He also had a working session withthe trade office of Vietnam in Belgium and the EU./.
VNA
