NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (standing) addresses the Vietnam-Australia economic cooperation forum. (Photo: VNA) Melbourne (VNA) – National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue was busy with a series of activities in Melbourne on December 2-3 as part of his official visit to Australia.
Attending a Vietnam-Australia economic cooperation forum on December 2 afternoon (local time), Hue was welcomed by Lord Mayor of Melbourne Sally Capp and Victoria's Commissioner to Southeast Asia Rebecca Hall.
Apart from agricultural cooperation, Hall said Australian enterprises are interested in various fields in Vietnam such as health care, maternal and baby care, and preschool education in Vietnam.
As of November 2022, Vietnam attracted 36,109 projects worth 437.52 billion USD from 141 countries and territories, heard the forum.
At the event, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong and Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh called for Australia’s increased investment in Vietnam in workforce training, digital transformation and hi-tech agriculture. They said Vietnam also encourages its firms to expand operations in Australia in line with the two countries’ laws.
Khanh said the Vietnamese Government is offering incentives in the spheres of agriculture, education and logistics, especially amid the fourth industrial revolution.
Hue hoped that more Australian enterprises will come to Vietnam to seek business opportunities. The two governments and legislatures will create favourable frameworks, policies and mechanisms to support businesses, he asserted.
At the event, a number of memoranda of understanding were signed. In particular, a leader of RMIT University – the biggest foreign investor in education in Vietnam, announced to double its investment in the country early next year.
NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (centre) receives CEO of Asia Society Australia Philipp Ivanov. (Photo: VNA) Receiving CEO of Asia Society Australia Philipp Ivanov and three businesspeople joining the Vietnam-Australia Business Champions Initiative in Melbourne in the afternoon of December 2, Hue expressed his readiness to listen to feedback from entrepreneurs and business associations to create the best business environment.
He suggested holding more trips to Vietnam for businesspeople to learn about the business environment and cooperation opportunities under the Initiative.
Stressing that Vietnam is attractive to foreign investors, not just for Australia, the businesspeople vowed to do better to encourage more investment in the country and offer practical recommendations to the two governments to boost bilateral ties.
In a reception for Treasurer of Victoria Tim Pallas and representatives of Linfox logistics provider on December 3, the top Vietnamese leader hailed Victoria for opening a trade and investment office in Ho Chi Minh City, contributing to reinforcing economic-trade-investment ties between the two localities and the two countries as well.
Speaking highly of Linfox’s investment in aviation logistics services in Vietnam, Hue wished that Linfox would enhance workforce training and cooperate in a direct flight service linking Vietnam and Victoria state.
Receiving Callum Fraser, founder of Elenberg Fraser and Phil Burns, President of Sinclair Brook on the same day, Hue highlighted Vietnam’s potential in real estate, tourism, entertainment, services and information technology.
With their strengths in design consultancy and real estate management, he asked them to partner with Vietnam in building smart cities.
The Australian executives hoped to receive further support to learn about opportunities and seek partners in Vietnam.
Before leaving Melbourne for his official visit to New Zealand, Hue visited Swinburne University where he worked with its leaders and talked with Vietnamese students who are studying and conducting research here./.
