Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Marjolijn Sonnema, Vice Minister for Agriculture of the Dutch Ministry ofEconomic Affairs, said the businesses highly valued potential for cooperationin this sphere with the city when she met with Vice Chairman of the municipalPeople’s Committee Le Thanh Liem on March 20.
The Netherlands and Vietnam have built a close relationship on the basis oftrust and long-term cooperation, she said, affirming that her country attachesimportance to strengthening and expanding cooperation with Vietnam.
For his part, Liem highlighted the flourishing development of the bilateralties, and thanked effective support of the Dutch side, especially those fromRotterdam city’s authority for HCM City in coping with climate change, managingwater resources and preventing floods.
He affirmed the municipal authorities will create favourable conditions for foreignfirms, including Dutch companies, to invest in the city, especially inhigh-tech agriculture and biotechnology.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed a number of cooperative projects inagriculture and information technology, including cooperation between the Dutchside and the Saigon Trading Group (Satra) in implementing a flower trading centre, and withthe Saigon Industry Corporation (CNS) in manufacturing integrated circuit inthe city.
Earlier the day, Marjolijn Sonnema delivered aspeech at a business forum on agriculture-innovation, and attended a programme topromote links between the two countries’ enterprises in HCM City.
Vietnam and the Netherlands established a strategic partnership on climate change adaptation and water management in 2010, and signed astrategic partnership agreement on sustainable agriculture and food security inApril 2014.
Bilateral trade is growing steadily. In 2015, Vietnam’sexports to the Netherlands increased by 42 percent and imports by 37 percent.The Netherlands is the second largest trade partner and the biggest investor inVietnam in the European Union.- VNA
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