At the talk (Photo: VNA)He made the remarks while attending a round-table talkon the US-Vietnam investment cooperation in New York on May 30 morning (NewYork time). The event, held by Harbinger Capital and the Asia Group, drew executivesof more than 20 leading financial groups, investment funds and firms of the US.
He noted the US has become one of the leadinginvestment partners of Vietnam with 835 projects with a total registeredcapital of over 10.2 billion USD. Many leading enterprises of the US have beenpresent in Vietnam for years and are running successfully. With bilateral tradeexceeding 47 billion USD in 2016, the US is the third biggest trade partner ofthe Southeast Asian nation.
He briefed US entrepreneurs about the country’ssocio-economic situation after over three decades of reform, opening andintegration, stressing that Vietnam has attained significant achievements, andbecome a middle-income country with increasingly extensive economic integrationand a close partner of almost all economies in the world.
Vietnam is promoting mergers and acquisitions inassociation with the equitisation of State-owned enterprises in such fields astransport, infrastructure, food, telecommunications, agriculture, services andtourism, he noted.
Regarding trade, he said the US’s export toVietnam is on the rise, expressing his belief that cooperation documents to besigned during this visit will help the two countries achieve a trade balanceand optimise their respective advantages.
“That trend is not contradictory but supportseach other. For example, Vietnam imports machinery, equipment and some otherproducts from the US while exporting foods that US consumers prefer like fish,shrimp, fruits and footwear,” he said.
At the forum, participating US entrepreneursassessed Vietnam as a country with rich investment potential in variousspheres, abundant human resources, social and political stability, increasingintegration into the world, and a strong resolve to promote the strong growthof the business community.
President of Harbinger Capital Philip Falcone,who invested in Ho Tram Strip project worth 4.2 billion USD in the southernprovince of Ba Ria – Vung Tau, pledged to continue pushing US investors andbusinesses to pay more attention to the Vietnamese market, contributing to theenhancement of the bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation in thecoming time.
He hoped the Vietnamese Government will createmore conditions for US enterprises to make long-term and stable investments.
Charles Kaye, co-chief executive officer atWarburg Pincus, described Vietnam as a destination of investment opportunitieswith favourable infrastructure for investors to access retail services, healthcare, and new technologies.
The KKR Global Institute said it is preparing afund of over 9 billion USD to invest in emerging markets, including Vietnam – amarket with young population, high GDP growth, and attractive globalcompetitiveness.
Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dungsaid it is time for the US businesses to make quick decisions in implementingprogrammes and projects on the basis of recognizing investment opportunities inVietnam – an investment environment with distinctive advantages.
Vietnam encourages US businesses to join in theequitisation of State-owned enterprises, supplement capital for businessdevelopment, and promote the transfer of technology, he said.
PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc recognized the open andcandid sharing of the US leading groups’ executives, especially recommendationsto improve the investment environment.
The Vietnamese Government will take into accountthose suggestions when building policies in the coming time, he said.
The PM quoted President Theodore Rooseveltas saying “Believe you can and you're halfway there,” and said the 20-year-old cooperativerelations between Vietnam and the US are strong enough to overcome challenges toachieve higher targets.
ThePM told the executives that with open and attractive policies and humanresources and development potential, Vietnam will continue maintaining itsposition as a gateway for a dynamic ASEAN region, a strategic investmentdestination of foreign investors and an important link in the current globalsupply chain.
He affirmed that with the door opening wide and visible opportunities, Vietnamalways welcomes and encourages investors to such areas as infrastructuredevelopment, high-quality services, energy, manufacturing, tourism, andespecially the capital market, which is of high demand in the country.
He asserted that the Vietnamese Government will continue efforts to build anaction-orientated and facilitating government, which is friendly to businessesand creates the most optimal conditions for businesspeople and investors,including the US ones, to easily access business opportunities, potential andoperation in Vietnam equally on the basis of mutual benefit.
He said he welcomes US businesses to invest in the medicine market in Vietnamin a more competitive manner in favour of people.
Vietnam is ready to welcome US businesses to engage in the stock and bondmarkets and develop information technology, education-training, aviation andother fields, he said.
Also on the day, the PM had meetings with executives of the US’s leadingeconomic groups, which are launching big investment projects in Vietnam, likeExxon Mobil, Coca Cola, Nike, and Harbinger Capital.
The PM reiterated the country’s economic reform and international integrationpolicy and briefed them on economic policies and renovations that aimed to makeit easier for domestic and foreign enterprises to do business in Vietnam.-VNA
VNA
