A seminar to promote bilateral trade between Vietnam and India recently took place in the Indian city of Mumbai .

Jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy and Vietnam Trade Office in India , the India-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IVCCI) and the Indian Entrepreneurs Office, the event drew the participation of almost 200 entrepreneurs from the two countries.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to India , Nguyen Thanh Tan said he hoped the signed ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement and India ’s recognition of Vietnam ’s full market economy would open up new chances to promote the comprehensive cooperation for the benefit of the two peoples.

He affirmed that the recent friendly visits between high-ranking Vietnamese and Indian Party, State, government and legislative leaders reflected the importance of the two countries’ strategic partnership.

President of IVCCI, G.D. Agarwal spoke highly of the dynamic development of Vietnam ’s economy as well as the great potential for bilateral cooperation. He also said the Vietnamese market opens up many opportunities for Indian investors.

At the event, delegates learned about Vietnam ’s economy, to highlight cooperation opportunities in this Southeast Asian market, and stressed the necessity of promptly opening a direct air route between the two countries.

Two-way trade in the first four months of this year reached over 1.262 billion USD, a year-on-year rise of 42 percent. The two countries plan to raise bilateral trade to five billion USD by 2015./.