A workshop on Vietnam ’s potentials and investment opportunities was held in Moscow, Russia, on Jan. 19.

Addressing the function, Vice Chairman of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Gheorgy Petrov said Vietnam is a promising investment market.

Russian investors can join in setting up oil refinery and metallurgy businesses, executing power projects, building hotels and business centres, providing machinery and equipment as well as manufacturing automobile in Vietnam , Petrov said.

Vietnamese Ambassador Bui Dinh Dinh applauded the organisation of the seminar, saying that similar activities will help promote traditional friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries.

Last year, two-way trade recorded a year-on-year rise of 4 percent, fetching more than 1.7 billion USD in 2009, said Dinh.

Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Cao Viet Sinh briefed the participants of the country’s political stability and social security, a high economic growth and huge investment demand which made Vietnam a destination for foreign investors.

The Vietnamese Government is striving to finalise its legal system and policies to encourage local and foreign investors, he said, noting that the gov’t is calling for foreign investment in five important sectors.

He took the occasion to call for closer cooperation between Russian and Vietnamese businesses for mutual development and for prosperity, friendship and benefits of the two peoples.

Russian businesses discussed issues relating to investment in manufacturing construction cranes, energy projects, realty market and housing, training officials, a free economic area in Vietnam and the framework of ASEAN./.